S.B. No. 289
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of professional nursing shortage reduction
  program grants to encourage clinical nursing instruction by
  part-time faculty at public or private institutions of higher
  education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 61.9623, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A grant from the professional nursing shortage
  reduction program to a professional nursing program or other entity
  involved with a professional nursing program in the preparation of
  students for initial licensure as registered nurses must be:
               (1)  expended exclusively on costs related to:
                     (A)  enrolling additional students;
                     (B)  nursing faculty enhancement in accordance
  with Section 61.96231;
                     (C)  encouraging innovation in the recruitment
  and retention of students, including the recruitment and retention
  of Spanish-speaking and bilingual students; or
                     (D)  identifying, developing, or implementing
  innovative methods to make the most effective use of limited
  professional nursing program faculty, instructional or clinical
  space, and other resources, including:
                           (i)  sharing administrative or
  instructional personnel, facilities, and responsibilities between
  two or more professional nursing programs located in the same
  region of this state; and
                           (ii)  using preceptors or part-time faculty
  to provide clinical instruction in order to address the need for
  qualified [reduce the number of new] faculty [needed] to
  accommodate increased student enrollment in the professional
  nursing program;
               (2)  contingent on the professional nursing program's
  having been approved as a professional nursing program by the board
  or the Board of Nurse Examiners, as appropriate, by September 1,
  2001;
               (3)  contingent on the professional nursing program's
  not being on probation with the Board of Nurse Examiners or other
  accrediting body; and
               (4)  if granted to increase enrollments, contingent on
  the professional nursing program's ability to enroll additional
  students, including having the necessary classroom space and
  clinical slots.
         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.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 289 passed the Senate on
  April 26, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 289 passed the House on
  May 17, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, two
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor