EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
*sb0718*
SENATE BILL 718
J2, J1, F2 (4lr1934)
ENROLLED BILL
— Finance/Health and Government Operations —
Introduced by Senators Lam and McKay
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at __ ______________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
President.
CHAPTER ______
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 Higher Education Commission; establishing the 5
Maryland Pathway to Nursing Advisory Committee to assist the Secretary of Higher 6
Education in the development and implementation of the Program; and generally 7
relating to the Maryland Pathway to Nursing Pilot Program. 8
BY adding to 9
Article – Health – General Education 10
Section 13–5201 through 13–5203 11–1801 through 11–1803 to be under the new 11
subtitle “Subtitle 52. 18. Maryland Pathway to Nursing Pilot Program” 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2023 (2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14 2 SENATE BILL 718
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Article – Health – General Education 3
SUBTITLE 52. 18. MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING PILOT PROGRAM. 4
13–5201. 11–1801. 5
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 6
INDICATED. 7
(B) “COMMITTEE” MEANS THE MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING 8
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 9
(C) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING PILOT 10
PROGRAM. 11
13–5202. 11–1802. 12
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING PILOT PROGRAM IN 13
THE DEPARTMENT COMMISSION. 14
(B) THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO : 15
(1) SUPPORT STUDENTS IN LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSING 16
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHO INTEND TO PRACTI CE LICENSED PRACTICA L 17
NURSING AS A CAREER IN THE STATE OR CONTINUE ON THE NURSING EDUCATIO NAL 18
PATHWAY TO BECOME A REGISTERED NURSE IN THE STATE; 19
(2) ALLEVIATE THE SHORTAG E OF NURSING PROFESSION ALS BY 20
INCREASING THE GRADU ATION AND LICENSURE RATES OF LICENSED PR ACTICAL 21
NURSING AND REGISTER ED NURSING STUDENTS IN THE STATE; 22
(3) INCREASE THE NUMBER O F LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES AND 23
REGISTERED NURSES WH O REFLECT THE DIVERS ITY OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY 24
SERVE; 25
(4) FACILITATE STUDENT AP PLICATIONS FOR FINAN CIAL 26
RESOURCES THAT PROVI DE TUITION ASSISTANC E, LOAN REPAYMENT , AND SUPPORT 27
FOR OTHER EDUCATIONA L COSTS; AND 28
SENATE BILL 718 3
(5) PROVIDE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH FINANCIAL ASSIS TANCE 1
TO COVER THE COST OF: 2
(I) COMPUTERS, TEXTBOOKS, AND OTHER SUPPLIES A ND 3
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES ; AND 4
(II) WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SE RVICES THAT PROVIDE 5
ASSISTANCE WITH TRAN SPORTATION, CHILD CARE , ELDER CARE , AND OTHER 6
LIVING EXPENSES THAT POSE A BA RRIER TO STUDENTS SU CCESSFULLY 7
COMPLETING THE STUDE NT’S EDUCATIONAL REQUIR EMENTS. 8
(C) THE SECRETARY, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, 9
SHALL DETERMINE THE FOLLOWING FOR THE PROGRAM: 10
(1) THE TIME FRAME AND ST EPS NECESSARY TO EST ABLISH THE 11
PROGRAM; 12
(2) THE AREAS OF THE STATE IN WHICH THE PROGRAM WILL 13
OPERATE; 14
(3) FUNDING TO SUPPORT TH E PROGRAM, INCLUDING A STRATEGY 15
FOR SUSTAINABILITY T HROUGH BRAIDED FUNDI NG FROM LOCAL WORKFO RCE 16
DEVELOPMENT BOARDS , LOCAL HEALTH CARE SY STEMS, AND FEDERAL GRANTS; 17
(4) THE RESOURCES NECESSA RY TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM; AND 18
(5) THE TYPES OF EVALUATI ONS, INCLUDING OBTAINING FEEDBACK 19
FROM STUDENTS AND ED UCATIONAL INSTITUTIO NS, NEEDED TO MAKE 20
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOU T THE PROGRAM’S DESIGN AND EXPANSI ON STATEWIDE . 21
(D) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, THE SECRETARY SHALL ISSUE GRANTS TO 22
AT LEAST TWO PILOT S ITES, LOCATED IN DIVERSE A REAS, THAT MEET THE 23
DEPARTMENT ’S COMMISSION’S REQUIREMENTS FOR PAR TICIPATION IN THE 24
PROGRAM. 25
(E) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 15, 2024, AND EACH DECEMBER 15 26
THEREAFTER THROUGH 2029, THE SECRETARY SHALL REPOR T TO THE GOVERNOR 27
AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE 28
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE IMPLE MENTATION OF THE PROGRAM. 29
13–5203. 11–1803. 30
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 31
4 SENATE BILL 718
(B) THE COMMITTEE SHALL ASSIS T THE SECRETARY IN THE DEVE LOPMENT 1
AND IMPLEMENTATION O F THE PROGRAM. 2
(C) THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBER S, APPOINTED 3
BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH: 4
(1) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 5
AFFAIRS; 6
(2) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION 7
COMMISSION DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; 8
(3) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING; 9
(4) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF 10
LABOR; 11
(4) (5) FOUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMMUNITY COLLE GES IN 12
THE STATE THAT OFFER LICE NSED PRACTICAL NURSI NG PROGRAMS ; 13
(5) (6) TWO REPRESENTATIVES F ROM PUBLIC HIGHER ED UCATION 14
INSTITUTIONS WITH A 4–YEAR DEGREE NURSING PROGRAM, ONE OF WHOM SHALL 15
BE FROM A HISTOR ICALLY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNIV ERSITY; 16
(6) (7) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FR OM A PRIVATE HIGHER 17
EDUCATION INSTITUTIO N THAT PRIMARILY OFF ERS 4–YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMS ; 18
(7) (8) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND NURSES 19
ASSOCIATION; 20
(8) (9) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION 21
OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES; 22
(9) (10) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND INDEPENDENT 23
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATION; 24
(10) (11) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND HOSPITAL 25
ASSOCIATION; 26
(11) (12) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LIFESPAN NETWORK; 27
(12) (13) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY 28
PUBLIC HEALTH PATHWAYS PROGRAM; 29
SENATE BILL 718 5
(13) (14) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FR OM A LABOR ORGANIZAT ION 1
THAT REPRESENTS CERT IFIED NURSING ASSIST ANTS, LICENSED PRACTICAL 2
NURSES, AND REGISTERED NURSE S; 3
(14) (15) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FR OM A LOCAL WORKFORCE 4
INVESTMENT BOARD ; 5
(15) (16) ONE PRACTICAL NURSING STUDENT IN THE STATE; 6
(16) (17) ONE LICENSED PRACTICA L NURSE LICENSED IN THE STATE; 7
AND 8
(17) (18) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF LEADINGAGE MARYLAND; 9
(18) (19) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HEALTH FACILITIES 10
ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND; AND 11
(17) (19) (20) ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL WITH EXPERTISE OR 12
EXPERIENCE THAT THE SECRETARY DETERMINES IS RELEVANT TO THE 13
COMMITTEE. 14
(D) THE SECRETARY SHALL DESIG NATE THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. 15
(E) THE DEPARTMENT COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE STAFF FOR THE 16
COMMITTEE. 17
(F) A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE: 18
(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 19
COMMITTEE; BUT 20
(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE 21
STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 23
1, 2024. 24