CA AB829

Authorizes California State University to establish independent Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree programs, creating an exception to the Master Plan for Higher Education that typically reserves doctoral degree authority for the University of California.

Limits the authority to award independent doctoral degrees under this exception solely to the discipline of occupational therapy.

Requires Occupational Therapy Doctorate programs to focus on preparing occupational therapists to provide health care services and comply with standards set by appropriate accrediting bodies.

Mandates that California State University fund startup and ongoing operations of these programs from existing academic program support budgets without reducing quality of undergraduate program support.

Recognizes the need to prepare increased numbers of occupational therapists in California while preserving the differentiation of mission between the two higher education segments.