H.B. No. 495
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of money from the permanent fund for
  health-related programs to provide grants to nursing education
  programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 63.202(f) and (g), Education Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (f)  Notwithstanding the limitation provided by Subsection
  (b), grants awarded under Subsection (c) for the state fiscal
  biennium ending on August 31, 2017 [2013], and the fiscal biennium
  ending on August 31, 2019 [2015], by the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board shall 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), Health and Safety Code.  In awarding
  grants under this subsection, the coordinating board may:
               (1)  give priority to institutions proposing to address
  the shortage of registered nurses by promoting innovation in
  education, recruitment, and retention of nursing students and
  qualified faculty;
               (2)  award grants on a competitive basis;
               (3)  consider the availability of matching funds; and
               (4)  fund a study by the nursing resource section to
  evaluate the competencies of clinical judgment and behaviors that
  professional nursing students should possess at the time of
  graduation.
         (g)  Subsection (f) and this subsection expire September 1,
  2019 [2015].
         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, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 495 was passed by the House on April
  9, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 133, Nays 10, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 495 was passed by the Senate on May
  18, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor