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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Texas Hospital-Based Nursing |
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Education Grant Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 3, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 155 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 155. TEXAS HOSPITAL-BASED NURSING EDUCATION GRANT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 155.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Board" means the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board. |
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(2) "Hospital" means a hospital that is not owned or |
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operated by the federal government or the state. |
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(3) "Hospital-Based Nursing Education Program" means |
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the curriculum and examinations leading to a professional |
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baccalaureate nursing degree. |
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(4) "Recognized accrediting agency" means the |
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Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and any other |
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association or organization so designated by the board. |
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Sec. 155.002. PROGRAM. A hospital-based nursing education |
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program is established. The board shall administer the |
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hospital-based nursing education program to make grants to |
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hospitals to support the preparation of students for initial |
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licensure as registered nurses in order to increase the number of |
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registered nurses to meet the needs for registered nurses in the |
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state. |
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Sec. 155.003. GRANTS. (a) A grant from the hospital-based |
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nursing education training program: |
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(1) must be expended on costs related to the |
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development and operation of a: |
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(A) hospital-based nursing education program |
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that confers a baccalaureate degree in nursing; or |
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(B) hospital-based bridge program for associate |
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degree nurses to baccalaureate degree nurses; and |
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(2) is contingent on the hospital-based nursing |
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education program having been approved by the board, a recognized |
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accrediting agency, and the Board of Nurse Examiners. |
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(b) If granted to a hospital partnering with a professional |
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nursing program, the funding is contingent on the professional |
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nursing program enrolling additional students; and |
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(c) Funds not expended on the costs described by Subsection |
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(a)(1) shall be returned to the board. |
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Sec. 155.004. ADMINISTRATION. The board shall adopt rules |
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and regulations for the administration of the hospital-based |
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nursing education grant program. |
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Sec. 155.005. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Each hospital that has a |
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hospital-based nursing education program shall submit an annual |
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report. The report must include accountability measures as |
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established by the board. |
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(b) The board may adopt rules to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |