EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0718*
SENATE BILL 718
J2, J1, F2 4lr1934
By: Senators Lam and McKay
Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2024
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Pathway to Nursing Pilot Program and Advisory Committee 2
– Establishment 3
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Pathway to Nursing Pilot Program in the 4
Maryland Department of Health; establishing the Maryland Pathway to Nursing 5
Advisory Committee to assist the Secretary in the development and implementation 6
of the Program; and generally relating to the Maryland Pathway to Nursing Pilot 7
Program. 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Health – General 10
Section 13–5201 through 13–5203 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 52. 11
Maryland Pathway to Nursing Pilot Program” 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2023 Replacement Volume) 14
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
Article – Health – General 17
SUBTITLE 52. MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING PILOT PROGRAM. 18
13–5201. 19
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 20
INDICATED. 21
(B) “COMMITTEE” MEANS THE MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING 22
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 23 2 SENATE BILL 718
(C) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING PILOT 1
PROGRAM. 2
13–5202. 3
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING PILOT PROGRAM IN 4
THE DEPARTMENT . 5
(B) THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO : 6
(1) SUPPORT STUDENTS IN LICENSED PRACTICA L NURSING 7
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHO INTEND TO PRACTI CE LICENSED PRACTICA L 8
NURSING AS A CAREER IN THE STATE OR CONTINUE ON THE NURSING EDUCATIO NAL 9
PATHWAY TO BECOME A REGISTERED NURSE IN THE STATE; 10
(2) ALLEVIATE THE SHORTAG E OF NURSIN G PROFESSIONALS BY 11
INCREASING THE GRADU ATION AND LICENSURE RATES OF LICENSED PR ACTICAL 12
NURSING AND REGISTER ED NURSING STUDENTS IN THE STATE; 13
(3) INCREASE THE NUMBER O F LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES AND 14
REGISTERED NURSES WH O REFLECT THE DIVERS ITY OF THE COMM UNITIES THEY 15
SERVE; 16
(4) FACILITATE STUDENT AP PLICATIONS FOR FINAN CIAL 17
RESOURCES THAT PROVI DE TUITION ASSISTANC E, LOAN REPAYMENT , AND SUPPORT 18
FOR OTHER EDUCATIONA L COSTS; AND 19
(5) PROVIDE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH FINANCIAL ASSIS TANCE 20
TO COVER THE COS T OF: 21
(I) COMPUTERS, TEXTBOOKS, AND OTHER SUPPLIES AND 22
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES ; AND 23
(II) WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SE RVICES THAT PROVIDE 24
ASSISTANCE WITH TRAN SPORTATION, CHILD CARE , ELDER CARE , AND OTHER 25
LIVING EXPENSES THAT POSE A BARRIER TO STUDENTS SUCCESSFULL Y 26
COMPLETING THE STUDENT’S EDUCATIONAL REQUIREM ENTS. 27
(C) THE SECRETARY, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, 28
SHALL DETERMINE THE FOLLOWING FOR THE PROGRAM: 29
(1) THE TIME FRAME AND ST EPS NECESSARY TO EST ABLISH THE 30 SENATE BILL 718 3
PROGRAM; 1
(2) THE AREAS OF THE STATE IN WHICH THE PROGRAM WILL 2
OPERATE; 3
(3) FUNDING TO SUPPORT TH E PROGRAM, INCLUDING A STRATEGY 4
FOR SUSTAINABILITY T HROUGH BRAIDED FUNDI NG FROM LOCAL WORKFO RCE 5
DEVELOPMENT BOARDS , LOCAL HEALTH CARE SY STEMS, AND FEDERAL GRANTS ; 6
(4) THE RESOURCES NECESSA RY TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM; AND 7
(5) THE TYPES OF EVALUATI ONS, INCLUDING OBTAINING FEEDBACK 8
FROM STUDENTS AND ED UCATIONAL INSTITUTIO NS, NEEDED TO MAKE 9
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOU T THE PROGRAM’S DESIGN AND EXPANSI ON STATEWIDE . 10
(D) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, THE SECRETARY SHALL ISSUE GRANTS T O 11
AT LEAST TWO PILOT S ITES, LOCATED IN DIVERSE A REAS, THAT MEET THE 12
DEPARTMENT ’S REQUIREMENTS FOR P ARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM. 13
(E) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 15, 2024, AND EACH DECEMBER 15 14
THEREAFTER THROUGH 2029, THE SECRETARY SHALL REPOR T TO THE GOVERNOR 15
AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE 16
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE IMPLE MENTATION OF THE PROGRAM. 17
13–5203. 18
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 19
(B) THE COMMITTEE SHALL ASSIS T THE SECRETARY IN THE DEVE LOPMENT 20
AND IMPLEMENTATION O F THE PROGRAM. 21
(C) THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBER S, APPOINTED 22
BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH: 23
(1) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 24
AFFAIRS; 25
(2) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION 26
COMMISSION; 27
(3) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING; 28
(4) FOUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMMUNITY COLLE GES IN THE 29
STATE THAT OFFER LICE NSED PRACTIC AL NURSING PROGRAMS ; 30 4 SENATE BILL 718
(5) TWO REPRESENTATIVES F ROM PUBLIC HIGHER ED UCATION 1
INSTITUTIONS WITH A 4–YEAR DEGREE NURSING PROGRAM, ONE OF WHOM SHALL 2
BE FROM A HISTORICAL LY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNIV ERSITY; 3
(6) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FR OM A PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION 4
INSTITUTION THAT PRI MARILY OFFERS 4–YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMS ; 5
(7) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND NURSES 6
ASSOCIATION; 7
(8) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF 8
COMMUNITY COLLEGES; 9
(9) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND INDEPENDENT 10
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATION; 11
(10) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND HOSPITAL 12
ASSOCIATION; 13
(11) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LIFESPAN NETWORK; 14
(12) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC 15
HEALTH PATHWAYS PROGRAM; 16
(13) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM A LABOR ORGANIZATION THAT 17
REPRESENTS CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANTS , LICENSED PRACTICAL N URSES, AND 18
REGISTERED NURSES ; 19
(14) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FR OM A LOCAL WORKFORCE INVESTMENT 20
BOARD; 21
(15) ONE PRACTICAL NURSING ST UDENT IN THE STATE; 22
(16) ONE LICENSED PRACTICA L NURSE LICENSED IN THE STATE; AND 23
(17) ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL WITH EXPERTISE OR EX PERIENCE THAT 24
THE SECRETARY DETERMINES IS RELEVANT TO THE COMMITTEE. 25
(D) THE SECRETARY SHALL DESIG NATE THE CHAIR OF TH E COMMITTEE. 26
(E) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE STAFF FOR THE COMMITTEE. 27
SENATE BILL 718 5
(F) A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE: 1
(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 2
COMMITTEE; BUT 3
(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE 4
STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 6
1, 2024. 7