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SB-389 • 2026

Pupil health: individuals with exceptional needs: respiratory services: licensed vocational nurses.

Pupil health: individuals with exceptional needs: respiratory services: licensed vocational nurses.

Education Healthcare
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Ochoa Bogh
Last action
2025-10-10
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 582, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify all possible tasks LVNs are allowed to perform, only mentioning suctioning and other basic respiratory services under supervision.

Allowing Licensed Vocational Nurses to Help Students with Respiratory Needs

This law allows licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) to perform certain basic respiratory tasks under the supervision of a credentialed school nurse for students who need special care during school hours.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) to perform suctioning and other basic respiratory tasks identified by the Respiratory Care Board of California, under the guidance of a credentialed school nurse.
  • Expands the types of health services that can be provided by LVNs in schools for students with special needs who require physical healthcare during school hours.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Students with exceptional needs requiring specialized physical health care services during school hours.
  • Licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) working in schools and home health agencies.
  • Credentialed school nurses who supervise LVNs performing respiratory tasks.

Terms To Know

Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)
A nurse with a vocational degree who can provide basic nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse or doctor.
Credentialed School Nurse
A school nurse who has met specific educational and licensing requirements to work in schools.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact tasks that LVNs can perform, only that they must be basic respiratory services under supervision.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect existing roles of other healthcare providers in schools.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-10 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 582, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-10 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-03 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.

  4. 2025-08-28 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. 2025-08-28 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 2775.) Ordered to the Senate.

  6. 2025-08-21 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

  7. 2025-08-20 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 20).

  8. 2025-07-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  9. 2025-07-03 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

  10. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on ED. and B. & P.

  11. 2025-05-15 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  12. 2025-05-15 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 34. Noes 0. Page 1091.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  13. 2025-05-13 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

  14. 2025-05-12 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to consent calendar.

  15. 2025-05-02 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 12.

  16. 2025-04-28 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0. Page 917.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  17. 2025-04-24 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

  18. 2025-04-03 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 28.

  19. 2025-03-26 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on B. P. & E.D. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 566.) (March 26). Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

  20. 2025-03-11 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing March 26.

  21. 2025-02-26 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on ED. and B. P. & E.D.

  22. 2025-02-18 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17.

  23. 2025-02-14 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 389, Ochoa Bogh.
Pupil health: individuals with exceptional needs: respiratory services: licensed vocational nurses.
(1) Existing law, the Respiratory Care Practice Act, establishes the Respiratory Care Board of California to license and regulate the practice of respiratory care. The act authorizes, among other things, a licensed vocational nurse who is employed by a home health agency to perform respiratory tasks and services identified by the board, as specified.
This bill would also authorize the performance of suctioning and other basic respiratory tasks and services by a licensed vocational nurse under the supervision of a credentialed school nurse.
(2) Existing law authorizes an individual with exceptional needs who requires specialized physical health care services, as defined, during the regular schoolday, to be assisted by individuals meeting specified requirements.
This bill would also authorize an individual with exceptional needs who requires specialized
physical health care services to be assisted by a licensed vocational nurse under the supervision of a credentialed school nurse for the above-described basic respiratory services.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF