BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

S.B. 794

 

By: Nelson, West

 

Higher Education

 

8/5/2011

 

Enrolled

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The current dedication of funds from the Permanent Fund for Health-Related Programs to nursing education will expire on August 31, 2011.

 

S.B. 794 continues the current dedication of a portion of the tobacco lawsuit settlement funds to support nursing education through August 31, 2015.

 

S.B. 794 amends current law relating to the use of money from the permanent fund for health-related programs to provide grants to nursing education programs.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 63.202(f) and (g), Education Code, as follows:

 

(f) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, notwithstanding the limitation provided by Subsection (b) (relating to the prohibition of use of funds), grants awarded under Subsection (c) (relating to the awarding of grants) for the state fiscal biennium ending on August 31, 2013, rather than ending on August 31, 2009, and the fiscal biennium ending on August 31, 2015, rather than ending on August 31, 2011, to 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, or to the nursing resource section established under Section 105.002(b) (relating to establishing a nursing resource center), Health and Safety Code. 

 

(g) Provides that Subsection (f) and this subsection expire September 1, 2015, rather than September 1, 2011.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.