By: Nelson S.B. No. 992
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of money from the permanent fund for
  health-related programs to provide grants to nursing education
  programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsections (f) and (g), Section 63.202,
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (f)  Notwithstanding the limitation provided by Subsection
  (b), grants awarded under Subsection (c) for the state fiscal
  biennium ending on August 31, 2009 [2005], and the fiscal biennium
  ending on August 31, 2011 [2007], by the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board shall be awarded to programs preparing students
  for initial licensure as registered nurses or programs preparing
  qualified faculty members with a master's or doctoral degree for
  the program, including programs at two-year institutions of higher
  education, four-year general academic teaching institutions,
  health science centers, and independent or private institutions of
  higher education. In awarding grants under this subsection, the
  coordinating board may:
               (1)  give priority to institutions proposing to address
  the shortage of registered nurses by promoting innovation in
  education, recruitment, and retention of nursing students and
  qualified faculty;
               (2)  award grants on a competitive basis; and
               (3)  consider the availability of matching funds.
         (g)  Subsection (f) and this subsection expire September 1,
  2011 [2007].
         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.