WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 866
– 1 –
Chapter 866
(Senate Bill 718)
AN ACT concerning
Maryland Pathway to Nursing Pilot Program and Advisory Committee
– Establishment
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Pathway to Nursing Pilot Program in the
Maryland Department of Health Higher Education Commission; establishing the
Maryland Pathway to Nursing Advisory Committee to assist the Secretary of Higher
Education in the development and implementation of the Program; and generally
relating to the Maryland Pathway to Nursing Pilot Program.
BY adding to
Article – Health – General Education
Section 13–5201 through 13–5203 11–1801 through 11–1803 to be under the new
subtitle “Subtitle 52. 18. Maryland Pathway to Nursing Pilot Program”
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2023 (2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Health – General Education
SUBTITLE 52. 18. MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING PILOT PROGRAM.
13–5201. 11–1801.
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.
(B) “COMMITTEE” MEANS THE MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(C) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING PILOT
PROGRAM.
13–5202. 11–1802.
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING PILOT PROGRAM IN
THE DEPARTMENT COMMISSION.
(B) THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO : Ch. 866 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
– 2 –
(1) SUPPORT STUDENTS IN L ICENSED PRACTICAL NU RSING
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHO INTEND TO PRACTI CE LICENSED PRACTICA L
NURSING AS A CAREER IN THE STATE OR CONTINUE ON THE NURSING EDUCATIO NAL
PATHWAY TO BECOME A REGISTERED NURSE IN THE STATE;
(2) ALLEVIATE THE SHORTAGE OF NURS ING PROFESSIONALS BY
INCREASING THE GRADU ATION AND LICENSURE RATES OF LICENSED PR ACTICAL
NURSING AND REGISTER ED NURSING STUDENTS IN THE STATE;
(3) INCREASE THE NUMBER O F LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES AND
REGISTERED NURSES WH O REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF THE COM MUNITIES THEY
SERVE;
(4) FACILITATE STUDENT AP PLICATIONS FOR FINAN CIAL
RESOURCES THAT PROVI DE TUITION ASSISTANC E, LOAN REPAYMENT , AND SUPPORT
FOR OTHER EDUCATIONA L COSTS; AND
(5) PROVIDE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH FINANCIAL ASSIS TANCE
TO COVER THE COST OF :
(I) COMPUTERS, TEXTBOOKS, AND OTHER SUPPLIES A ND
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES ; AND
(II) WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SE RVICES THAT PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE WITH TRAN SPORTATION, CHILD CARE , ELDER CARE , AND OTHER
LIVING EXPENSES THAT POSE A BARRIER TO STUDENTS SUCCESSF ULLY
COMPLETING THE STUDE NT’S EDUCATIONAL REQUIR EMENTS.
(C) THE SECRETARY, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE,
SHALL DETERMINE THE FOLLOWING FOR THE PROGRAM:
(1) THE TIME FRAME AND ST EPS NECESSARY TO E STABLISH THE
PROGRAM;
(2) THE AREAS OF THE STATE IN WHICH THE PROGRAM WILL
OPERATE;
(3) FUNDING TO SUPPORT TH E PROGRAM, INCLUDING A STRATEGY
FOR SUSTAINABILITY T HROUGH BRAIDED FUNDI NG FROM LOCAL WORKFO RCE
DEVELOPMENT BOARDS , LOCAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, AND FEDERAL GRANTS ;
(4) THE RESOURCES NECESSA RY TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM; AND WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 866
– 3 –
(5) THE TYPES OF EVALUATI ONS, INCLUDING OBTAINING FEEDBACK
FROM STUDENTS AND ED UCATIONAL INSTITUTIO NS, NEEDED TO MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS ABOU T THE PROGRAM’S DESIGN AND EXPANSION STATEWIDE .
(D) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2025, THE SECRETARY SHALL ISSUE GRANTS TO
AT LEAST TWO PILOT S ITES, LOCATED IN DIVERSE A REAS, THAT MEET THE
DEPARTMENT ’S COMMISSION’S REQUIREMENTS FOR PAR TICIPATION IN THE
PROGRAM.
(E) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 15, 2024, AND EACH DECEMBER 15
THEREAFTER THROUGH 2029, THE SECRETARY SHALL REPOR T TO THE GOVERNOR
AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE IMPLE MENTATION OF THE PROGRAM.
13–5203. 11–1803.
(A) THERE IS A MARYLAND PATHWAY TO NURSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(B) THE COMMITTEE SHALL ASSIS T THE SECRETARY IN THE DEVE LOPMENT
AND IMPLEMENTATION O F THE PROGRAM.
(C) THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBER S, APPOINTED
BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH:
(1) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS;
(2) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION
COMMISSION DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH;
(3) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING;
(4) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR;
(4) (5) FOUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMMUNITY COLLE GES IN
THE STATE THAT OFFER LICE NSED PRACTICAL NURSI NG PROGRAMS ;
(5) (6) TWO REPRESENTATIVES F ROM PUBLIC HIGHER ED UCATION
INSTITUTIONS WITH A 4–YEAR DEGREE NURSING PROGRAM, ONE OF WHOM SHALL
BE FROM A HISTORICAL LY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNIV ERSITY;
Ch. 866 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
– 4 –
(6) (7) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FR OM A PRIVATE HIGHER
EDUCATION INSTITUTIO N THAT PRIMARILY OFF ERS 4–YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMS ;
(7) (8) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND NURSES
ASSOCIATION;
(8) (9) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION
OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES;
(9) (10) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND INDEPENDENT
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ASSOCIATION;
(10) (11) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION;
(11) (12) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF TH E LIFESPAN NETWORK;
(12) (13) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY
PUBLIC HEALTH PATHWAYS PROGRAM;
(13) (14) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FR OM A LABOR ORGANIZAT ION
THAT REPRESENTS CERT IFIED NURSING ASSIST ANTS, LICENSED PRACTICAL
NURSES, AND REGISTERED NURSE S;
(14) (15) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FR OM A LOCAL WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT BOARD ;
(15) (16) ONE PRACTICAL NURSING STUDENT IN THE STATE;
(16) (17) ONE LICENSED PRACTICA L NURSE LICENSED IN THE STATE;
AND
(17) (18) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF LEADINGAGE MARYLAND;
(18) (19) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HEALTH FACILITIES
ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND; AND
(17) (19) (20) ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL WITH EXPERTISE OR
EXPERIENCE THAT THE SECRETARY DETERMINES IS RELEVANT TO THE
COMMITTEE.
(D) THE SECRETARY SHALL DESIG NATE THE CHAIR OF TH E COMMITTEE.
WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 866
– 5 –
(E) THE DEPARTMENT COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE STAFF FOR THE
COMMITTEE.
(F) A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE:
(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE; BUT
(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE
STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET .
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June
1, 2024.
Approved by the Governor, May 16, 2024.