502. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, both of the following apply:
(1) The Board of Registered Nursing, the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians of the State of California, the Physician Assistant Board, and the Respiratory Care Board of California shall collect workforce data from their respective licensees and registrants as specified in subdivision (b) for future workforce planning at least biennially. The data shall be collected at the time of electronic license or registration renewal for those boards that utilize electronic renewals for licensees or registrants.
(2) All other boards that are not listed in paragraph (1) that regulate healing arts licensees or registrants under this division shall request workforce data from their respective licensees and registrants as specified in subdivision (b) for future workforce planning at least biennially. The data shall be requested at the time of electronic license or registration renewal for those boards that utilize electronic renewals for licensees or registrants.
(b) In conformance with specifications under subdivision (d), the workforce data collected or requested by each board about its licensees and registrants shall include, at a minimum, all of the following information:
(1) Anticipated year of retirement.
(2) Area of practice or specialty.
(3) City, county, and ZIP Code of practice.
(4) Date of birth.
(5) Educational background and the highest level attained at time of licensure or registration.
(6) Gender or gender identity.
(7) Hours spent in direct patient care, including telehealth hours as a subcategory, training, research, and administration.
(8) Languages spoken.
(9) National Provider Identifier.
(10) Race or ethnicity.
(11) Type of employer or classification of primary practice site among the types of practice sites specified by the board, including, but not limited to, clinic, hospital, managed care organization, or private practice.
(12) Work hours.
(13) Sexual orientation.
(14) Disability status.
(c) Each board shall maintain the confidentiality of the information it receives from licensees and registrants under this section and shall only release information in an aggregate form that cannot be used to identify an individual other than as specified in subdivision (e).
(d) The Department of Consumer Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Health Care Access and Information, shall specify for each board subject to this section the specific information and data that will be collected or requested pursuant to subdivision (b). The Department of Consumer Affairs’ identification and specification of this information and data shall be exempt until June 30, 2023, from the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(e) Each board, or the Department of Consumer Affairs on its behalf, shall, beginning on July 1, 2022, and quarterly thereafter, provide the individual licensee and registrant data it collects pursuant to this section to the Department of Health Care Access and Information in a manner directed by the Department of Health Care Access and Information, including license or registration number and associated license or registration information. The Department of Health Care Access and Information shall maintain the confidentiality of the licensee and registrant information it receives and shall only release information in an aggregate form that cannot be used to identify an individual.
(f) A licensee or registrant shall not be required to provide the information listed in subdivision (b) as a condition for license or registration renewal, and licensees or registrants shall not be subject to discipline for not providing the information listed in subdivision (b).
(g) This section does not alter or affect mandatory reporting requirements for licensees or registrants established pursuant to this division, including, but not limited to, Sections 1715.5, 1902.2, 2425.3, and 2455.2.
(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 143, Sec. 4. (AB 133) Effective July 27, 2021.)