81R11598 CS-F

By: Pitts H.B. No. 3230

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the approval of out-of-state nursing education programs by the Texas Board of Nursing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 301.157, Occupations Code, is amended by amending Subsection (d-4) and adding Subsection (d-8) to read as follows:

(d-4) The board may recognize and accept as approved under this section a school of nursing or educational program operated in another state and approved by a state board of nursing or other regulatory body of another state. The board shall develop policies to ensure that the other state board's standards are substantially equivalent to the board's standards.

(d-8) A nursing program is considered to meet standards substantially equivalent to the board's standards if the program:

(1) is part of an institution of higher education in another state that is approved by the regulatory authorities of that state;

(2) holds regional accreditation by an accrediting body recognized by the United States secretary of education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation;

(3) holds specialty accreditation by an accrediting body recognized by the United States secretary of education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, including the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission;

(4) requires for admission that an applicant be a licensed practical or vocational nurse, military service corpsman, paramedic, or the holder of a degree in a clinically oriented health care field with demonstrated experience providing direct patient care; and

(5) graduates students who:

(A) achieve program outcomes determined by the program's faculty, including passing a nursing examination that tests knowledge essential to beginning practice as a registered nurse;

(B) pass an examination, developed by the program's faculty subject matter experts, that measures clinical competencies essential to beginning practice as a registered nurse and meets nationally recognized standards; and

(C) pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses at a rate equivalent to the passage rate for students of board-approved in-state programs.

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, 2009.