BILL ANALYSIS
By: Christian
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Texas has a nursing shortage. By 2010, Texas will face a shortage of 27,000 registered nurses. As the population ages and requires more health care, the demand for nurses increases. To help increase the number of nurses in the state SFA is looking to expand its nursing program. A gift of land and buildings, valued at approximately $1.4 million, has been given to Stephen F. Austin State University to expand its Nursing Program. The gift is contingent upon renovation of the existing facilities and relocating the SFA School of Nursing to the site within three years.
The School of Nursing is working with UTMB to develop the first collaborative Family Nurse Practitioner-Physician’s Assistant program in the state of Texas. In 2006, the School of Nursing had two clinical labs. In order to accommodate increased enrollment, one clinical lab was converted into a classroom with a capacity of 75 students. The existing facilities lack faculty offices, clinical laboratories, and classrooms to accommodate current enrollment. The School of Nursing plans to increase enrollment again by 25% in Fall 2007 and Fall 2008 to help solve the nursing shortage.
HB 1775 allows Stephen F. Austin State University to issue tuition revenue bonds for the expansion of the school of nursing.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1: Subchapter B, Chapter 55 of the Education Code is amended by adding Section 55.1768. The board of regents of Stephen F. Austin State University may acquire, purchase, construct, improve, renovate, enlarge, or equip property, buildings, structures, facilities, roads or related infrastructure for the expansion of the school of nursing facilities at Stephen F. Austin State University. This is by the issuance of bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 13 million.
The board may pledge irrevocably to the payment of the bonds all or any part of the revenue funds of Stephen F. Austin State University, including student tuition charges. The amount of a pledge may not be reduced or abrogated while the bonds for which the pledge is made or bonds issued to refund those bonds are outstanding. Any portion of the proceeds of bonds that is not required for the specified project for which the bonds are authorized may be used to renovate existing structures and facilities at the institution.
SECTION 2: Section 61.0572 (e) of the Education Code is amended to make conforming changes.
SECTION 3: Section 61.058 (b) of the Education Code is amended to make conforming changes.
SECTION 4: Effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.