AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 3078 establishes an advisory committee to recommend a uniform pre-nursing curriculum for undergraduate professional programs in nursing at Texas institutions of higher education.
C.S.H.B. 3078 amends current law relating to the creation of an advisory committee to recommend a uniform pre-nursing curriculum for undergraduate professional nursing programs offered by public institutions of higher education.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.0261, as follows:
Sec. 61.0261. UNIFORM PRE-NURSING CURRICULUM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) Defines in this section, "pre-nursing curriculum" and "undergraduate professional nursing program."
(b) Provides that 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. Provides that 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) Prohibits the members of the advisory committee from receiving compensation for their service.
(d) Requires the advisory committee to assess, as of September 1, 2015, the prerequisite courses that are required for each undergraduate professional nursing program in this state, and the ability of a student to use course credit earned at one institution of higher education to qualify for consideration for admission to an undergraduate professional nursing program offered by another institution of higher education.
(e) Requires the advisory committee to develop and make recommendations regarding the creation of a uniform pre-nursing curriculum. Requires that recommendations under this section specify:
(1) the prerequisite courses that a student must complete to qualify for consideration 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) Requires the advisory committee, not later than December 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 under this section, including the recommended uniform pre-nursing curriculum.
(g) Provides that this section expires January 1, 2017.
SECTION 2. Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, not later than January 1, 2016, to 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 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.