It is the intent of the Legislature that the Board of Registered Nursing seek ways and means to identify and rehabilitate registered nurses whose competency may be impaired due to abuse of alcohol and other drugs, or due to mental illness so that registered nurses so afflicted may be rehabilitated and returned to the practice of nursing in a manner that will not endanger the public health and safety. It is also the intent of the Legislature that the Board of Registered Nursing shall implement this legislation by establishing an intervention program as a voluntary alternative to traditional disciplinary actions.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 426, Sec. 22. (SB 800) Effective January 1, 2016.)