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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot project regarding funding for professional |
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nursing education programs offered by general academic teaching |
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institutions and health-related institutions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.0592 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.0592. PILOT PROJECT REGARDING FUNDING FOR |
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PROFESSIONAL NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS. (a) The board shall |
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develop and implement a pilot project in which the board, with |
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respect to appropriations recommendations for the 2010-2011 state |
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fiscal biennium for the professional nursing education programs |
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that are offered by general academic teaching institutions that |
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elect to participate in the project, uses: |
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(1) funding formulas, other than mission-specific |
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funding formulas, that to the extent practicable are based solely |
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on elements that are the same as the elements of the general and |
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supplemental funding formulas used to make appropriations |
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recommendations for professional nursing programs offered by |
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health-related institutions; and |
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(2) percentages for dividing money among the |
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professional nursing education program formulas applicable to a |
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general academic teaching institution that to the extent |
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practicable are the same as the percentages for dividing money |
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among the formulas for professional nursing education programs |
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offered by health-related institutions. |
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(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), elements of funding |
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formulas are comparable if they contain the same weights, models, |
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scales, or rates, as applicable. |
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(c) The board shall require a general academic teaching |
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institution that elects to participate in the pilot project to: |
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(1) maintain a clinical faculty-to-student ratio in |
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the institution's professional nursing education program of not |
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more than 13 to 1, if the applicable faculty member will be the only |
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person officially responsible for the clinical group; and |
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(2) not later than December 1, 2012, submit a report to |
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the board regarding: |
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(A) any effects of the funding and |
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faculty-to-student ratios provided under the pilot project on the |
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institution's professional nursing education programs, including |
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the number of: |
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(i) students admitted to or graduating from |
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the programs; and |
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(ii) faculty, clinical preceptors, or |
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clinical teaching assistants in the education programs; and |
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(B) any other related information the board |
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considers appropriate. |
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(d) Any increase in a clinical faculty-to-student ratio in |
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accordance with this section is not a ground for withdrawal of the |
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approval of a professional nursing education program. |
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(e) This section expires December 31, 2012. |
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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. |