BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3078

By: Darby

Higher Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Many have observed that continued population growth in Texas increases the need for the state to facilitate the graduation of nurses. By not having a uniform pre-nursing curriculum for admittance into professional nursing programs, there are concerns that institutions of higher education are creating impediments to pre-nursing students that prevent timely graduation, waste state dollars, and generally discourage these valuable students. C.S.H.B. 3078 seeks to take the first step towards eliminating these impediments.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3078 amends the Education Code to create the Uniform Pre-Nursing Curriculum Advisory Committee to develop and make recommendations on a uniform pre-nursing curriculum for undergraduate professional nursing programs offered by institutions of higher education. The bill provides for the composition of the advisory committee, requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to make appointments to the advisory committee not later than January 1, 2016, and prohibits the members from receiving compensation for their service.

C.S.H.B. 3078 requires the advisory committee to assess, as of September 1, 2015, the prerequisite courses that are required for each undergraduate professional nursing program in Texas and the ability of a student to use course credit earned at one institution of higher education to qualify for admission to an undergraduate professional nursing program offered by another institution of higher education. The bill requires the advisory committee to develop and make recommendations regarding the creation of a uniform pre-nursing curriculum that specify the prerequisite courses that a student must complete to qualify for admission to each undergraduate professional nursing program offered by an institution of higher education and the content for such courses. The bill requires the advisory committee, not later than September 1, 2016, to prepare and submit to the legislature and to each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education a report containing the committee's findings, including the recommended uniform pre-nursing curriculum. The bill's provisions expire January 1, 2017.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3078 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 61.0261 to read as follows: Sec. 61.0261. UNIFORM PRE-NURSING CURRICULUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In this section: (1) "Pre-nursing curriculum" means a curriculum designed to prepare students for enrollment in an undergraduate professional nursing program. (2) "Undergraduate professional nursing program" means an educational program for preparing students for initial licensure as registered nurses.	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 61.0261 to read as follows: Sec. 61.0261. UNIFORM PRE-NURSING CURRICULUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In this section: (1) "Pre-nursing curriculum" means a curriculum designed to prepare students for enrollment in an undergraduate professional nursing program. (2) "Undergraduate professional nursing program" means an educational program for preparing students for initial licensure as registered nurses.
(b) The Uniform Pre-Nursing Curriculum Advisory Committee is created to develop and make recommendations on a uniform pre-nursing curriculum for undergraduate professional nursing programs offered by institutions of higher education. The advisory committee consists of at least nine members as follows: (1) the commissioner of higher education or the commissioner's designee; (2) the executive director of the Texas Board of Nursing or the executive director's designee; (3) a representative of the Texas Nurses Association, appointed by the board; and (4) a representative from the undergraduate professional nursing programs offered by at least six institutions of higher education, appointed by the board.	(b) The Uniform Pre-Nursing Curriculum Advisory Committee is created to develop and make recommendations on a uniform pre-nursing curriculum for undergraduate professional nursing programs offered by institutions of higher education. The advisory committee consists of at least 16 members as follows: (1) the commissioner of higher education or the commissioner's designee; (2) the executive director of the Texas Board of Nursing or the executive director's designee; (3) two representatives of professional nursing associations, appointed by the board; and (4) a representative from the undergraduate professional nursing programs offered by at least 12 institutions of higher education, appointed by the board in accordance with the following: (A) at least three representatives must be from junior colleges; (B) at least three representatives must be from general academic teaching institutions; and (C) at least three representatives must be from health science centers.
(c) The members of the advisory committee may not receive compensation for their service.	(c) The members of the advisory committee may not receive compensation for their service. (d) The advisory committee shall assess, as of September 1, 2015: (1) the prerequisite courses that are required for each undergraduate professional nursing program in this state; and (2) the ability of a student to use course credit earned at one institution of higher education to qualify for admission to an undergraduate professional nursing program offered by another institution of higher education.
(d) The advisory committee shall develop and make recommendations on a uniform pre-nursing curriculum to serve as the prerequisite for gaining admission to each undergraduate professional nursing program offered by an institution of higher education. The uniform curriculum must specify the course content for the first 60 semester credit hours a student must take before gaining admission to an undergraduate professional nursing program. (e) Not later than September 1, 2016, the advisory committee shall prepare and submit a report containing the committee's recommended uniform pre-nursing curriculum to the legislature and to each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education. (f) This section expires January 1, 2017.	(e) The advisory committee shall develop and make recommendations regarding the creation of a uniform pre-nursing curriculum. Recommendations under this section must specify: (1) the prerequisite courses that a student must complete to qualify for admission to each undergraduate professional nursing program offered by an institution of higher education; and (2) the content for the courses under Subdivision (1). (f) Not later than September 1, 2016, the advisory committee shall prepare and submit to the legislature and to each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education a report containing the committee's findings under this section, including the recommended uniform pre-nursing curriculum. (g) This section expires January 1, 2017.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall make the appointments to the Uniform Pre-Nursing Curriculum Advisory Committee required under Section 61.0261(b), Education Code, as added by this Act.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 3. 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, 2015.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.