State Capitol, CA – Senator John M. W. Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) today issued the following statement applauding the California Department of Consumer Affairs’ (DCA) decision to waive rules that were prohibiting nursing students from graduating because they couldn’t get the requisite supervised instruction in hospitals and clinical settings amid stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

“I am overjoyed to learn that the Department of Consumer Affairs answered the call of thousands of nursing students across the state last night and temporarily waived the strict regulations that were prohibiting nursing students from graduating.

“More nurses are a critical asset in the fight to stop COVID-19. I was proud to lead this effort in the Legislature and look forward to continuing to work with nurses and nursing schools on permanent licensing reform that puts access to care before needless bureaucracy.”

Moorlach was the first member of the Legislature to call on the governor and DCA to waive the direct-patient-care clinical hour requirements. He was joined in this effort by nursing schools and student organizations across California. Nearly 20 legislators followed Moorlach’s lead and joined his call for action. The original letter to DCA is available on his website, at this link.

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State Senator John M. W. Moorlach represents the 37th district of California which encompasses Costa Mesa, Irvine, Lake Forest, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, Tustin, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and Orange. Senator Moorlach is a trained Certified Financial Planner and the only trained CPA in the California Senate.