(a)
The board shall collect and analyze workforce data from its licensees for future workforce planning. The board may collect the data at the time of license renewal or from a scientifically selected random sample of its licensees. The board shall produce reports on the workforce data it collects, at a minimum, on a biennial basis. The board shall maintain the confidentiality of the information it receives from licensees under this section and shall only release information in an aggregate form that cannot be used to identify an individual. The workforce data collected by the board shall include, at a minimum, employment information such as hours of work, number of positions held, time spent in direct patient care, clinical practice area, type of
employer, and work location. The data shall also include future work intentions, reasons for leaving or reentering nursing, job satisfaction ratings, and demographic data.
(b)
Aggregate information collected pursuant to this section shall be placed on the board’s Internet Web site.
(c)
(1)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the board shall collect, at least biennially, at the times of both issuing an initial license and issuing a renewal license, all of the following data on nurses licensed under this chapter:
(A)
Location of practice, including city, county, and ZIP Code.
(B)
Race or ethnicity, subject to paragraph (3).
(C)
Gender.
(D)
Languages spoken.
(E)
Educational background.
(F)
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.
(2)
The board shall annually provide the data collected pursuant to paragraph (1) to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development in a manner directed by the office that allows for inclusion of the data into the annual report required by Section 128052 of the Health and Safety Code.
(3)
A licensee may, but is not required to, report his or her race or ethnicity to the board.
(d)
The board is authorized to expend the sum of one hundred forty-five thousand dollars ($145,000) from the Board of Registered Nursing Fund in the Professions and Vocations Fund for the purpose of implementing this section.