By: Howard of Travis H.B. No. 3443
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Texas Hospital-Based Nursing
Education Partnership Grant Program.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter EE to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER EE. TEXAS HOSPITAL-BASED NURSING EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
GRANT PROGRAM
       Sec. 61.9750.  PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to
establish the Texas Hospital-Based Nursing Education Partnership
Grant Program to increase the number of nurses in Texas by fostering
innovation through partnership models, leveraging existing
expertise and infrastructure in both practice and academia, and
expanding nursing education.
       Sec. 61.9751.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
             (1)  "Board" means the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board.
             (2)  "Hospital" means a hospital that is not owned or
operated by the federal government or the state.
             (3)  "Institution of higher education" means a public
junior college, public senior college or university, medical or
dental unit, public state college, or other agency of higher
education as defined in Chapter 61, Title 3, Education Code.
       Sec. 61.9752.  PROGRAM. A hospital-based nursing education
partnership program is established. The board shall administer the
hospital-based nursing education partnership program to make
grants to hospitals partnering with an accredited nursing education
program or programs at an institution or institutions of higher
education. The program shall support collaborative instructional
models between hospitals and institutions of higher education.
       Sec. 61.9753.  GRANTS. (a) A grant from the hospital-based
nursing education partnership program:
             (1)  must be expended on costs related to the
development and operation of:
                   (A)  a nursing education program that leads to
initial licensure as a registered nurse and confers an associate
degree or bachelor of science degree in nursing; or
                   (B)  a bridge program for associate degree to
bachelor of science degree in nursing or to master of science degree
in nursing with concentration in education; or bachelor of science
to master of science degree in nursing with concentration in
education; or
                   (C)  an accelerated bachelor of science in nursing
degree program; and
             (2)  is contingent on the hospital-based nursing
education partnership program having been approved by the board and
the Board of Nurse Examiners.
       (b)  If granted to a hospital partnering with an institution
of higher education, the funding is contingent on the institution
of higher education enrolling additional students; and
       (c)  Funds not expended on the costs described by Subsection
(a)(1) shall be returned to the board for distribution to:
             (1)  other applicants under the hospital-based nursing
education partnership program; or
             (2)  through the Professional Nursing Shortage
Reduction Program or Nursing Innovation Grant Program.
       Sec. 61.9754.  PRIORITY FOR FUNDING. In awarding money for
the program under this subchapter, priority shall be given to
proposals that:
             (1)  are collaborative education models between any
combination of hospitals and institutions of higher education in
this state;
             (2)  have a demonstrable education model to:
                   (A)  increase the number of licensed nurses and
nursing faculty, and
                   (B)  improve student retention.
             (3)  are matched with other available funds, including
funds from a hospital, private or nonprofit entity, or institution
of higher education.
       Sec. 61.9755.  ADMINISTRATION. The board shall adopt rules
and regulations for the administration of the hospital-based
nursing education partnership grant program.
       Sec. 61.9756.  ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Each hospital that
receives funding shall submit an annual report. The report must
include accountability measures as established by the board.
       (b)  The board may adopt rules to implement this section.
       SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2007.