Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair, Senate Committee on Higher Education
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4471 by Kolkhorst (relating to the professional nursing shortage reduction program.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would modify several sections of education code relating to the professional nursing shortage reduction program. Under provisions of the bill, new professional nursing programs would be eligible for funding. The Higher Education Coordinating Board would be required to establish a new grant process where a public or private institution that offers a professional nursing program, would enter into an agreement to enroll additional students or graduate additional students prepared for initial licensure as registered nurses. The institution would be required to state the number of additional students that the institution's professional nursing program intends to enroll or graduate, identify benchmarks for determining adequate progress toward enrolling or graduating those additional students, state the amount of the grant award, and describe a proposed payment schedule for distribution of the grant money to the institution seeking the grant. Provisions of the bill would be implemented within existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.