79R7644 CAS-D

By:  Solis                                                        H.B. No. 3034



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a program to reduce the shortage of professional and 
vocational nurses through financial assistance from the Texas 
Enterprise Fund.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 481.078(c), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), the fund may be 
used only for economic development, infrastructure development, 
community development, job training programs, [and] business 
incentives, and nursing shortage reduction as provided by this 
section and  Subchapter Z-1, Chapter 61, Education Code.  Based on 
the severity of any existing nursing shortage at the time, the 
governor shall determine the percentage of the fund to be used in a 
state fiscal year to award grants for nursing shortage reduction.
	SECTION 2.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding 
Subchapter Z-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER Z-1.  PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL NURSING

SHORTAGE REDUCTION PROGRAM
	Sec. 61.9641.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter, "nurse,"  
"nursing," "professional nursing," and "vocational nursing" have 
the meanings assigned by Section 301.002, Occupations Code.
	Sec. 61.9642.  DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NURSING 
SHORTAGE REDUCTION FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.  (a)  The board 
shall develop and implement a nursing shortage reduction program in 
accordance with this subchapter to increase the number of 
professional and vocational nurses in this state.
	(b)  The board shall design the program to provide for the 
board, using criteria and procedures adopted by board rule, to  
recommend to the governor individuals and institutions the board 
determines should be awarded grants from the Texas Enterprise Fund 
established by Section 481.078, Government Code.  Under the 
program, the board may recommend to the governor for grants only:
		(1)  individuals enrolled in professional or 
vocational nursing education programs at institutions of higher 
education or private or independent institutions of higher 
education to assist those persons in paying the costs of attending 
those programs; or
		(2)  institutions of higher education to use in 
recruiting and retaining faculty who teach in professional or 
vocational nursing education programs.
	(c)  The criteria and procedures the board adopts for 
purposes of Subsection (b) must include eligibility requirements, 
such as financial need, that an individual or institution must meet 
to be recommended for a grant award and a procedure by which a 
person may apply for a grant recommendation.  The board, in 
consultation with the governor, by rule shall also establish the 
types of costs that may be paid using Texas Enterprise Fund grant 
money or any other money distributed under Section 61.9643.
	Sec. 61.9643.  ADDITIONAL FUNDING.  In addition to grants 
awarded from the Texas Enterprise Fund, the board, in accordance 
with board rule, may distribute to grant recipients any other money 
appropriated for purposes of this subchapter and money from gifts, 
grants, and donations accepted by the board that may be used for 
purposes of this subchapter.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.