S.B. 271 - *SB271* SENATE BILL NO. 271–SENATOR TITUS MARCH 4, 2025 ____________ JOINT SPONSOR: ASSEMBLYMEMBER JAUREGUI ____________ Referred to Committee on Finance SUMMARY—Makes an appropriation for a nurse apprentice program. (BDR S-1054) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No. Effect on the State: Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT making an appropriation to the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services for carrying out a nurse apprentice program; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the State 1 General Fund to the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the 2 Department of Health and Human Services the sum of $12,000,000 3 for carrying out a nurse apprentice program. 4 2. Money appropriated by subsection 1 may be: 5 (a) Granted to another entity to carry out the program. 6 (b) Used only for: 7 (1) Reimbursement of a health care entity that is enrolled in 8 the program for: 9 (I) Compensation paid by the health care entity to each 10 nurse apprentice who participates in the program and is employed 11 by the health care entity; 12 – 2 – - *SB271* (II) The costs of supervising each nurse apprentice who 1 participates in the program and is employed by the health care 2 entity; and 3 (III) Retention bonuses paid by the health care entity to 4 each nurse apprentice who participates in the program and enters 5 into an employment agreement with the health care entity upon 6 graduation and licensure; 7 (2) Travel expenses incurred by a nurse apprentice who 8 participates in the program and resides more than 50 miles from his 9 or her employing health care entity; and 10 (3) Administrative costs to carry out the program, except not 11 more than $500,000 of the money appropriated by subsection 1 may 12 be used for this purpose. 13 3. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by 14 subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 15 2027, by the entity to which the appropriation is made or any entity 16 to which money from the appropriation is granted or otherwise 17 transferred in any manner, and any portion of the appropriated 18 money remaining must not be spent for any purpose after 19 September 17, 2027, by either the entity to which the money was 20 appropriated or the entity to which the money was subsequently 21 granted or transferred, and must be reverted to the State General 22 Fund on or before September 17, 2027. 23 4. As used in this section: 24 (a) “Health care entity” means: 25 (1) A medical facility; 26 (2) A community health clinic; or 27 (3) A health maintenance organization. 28 (b) “Nurse apprentice” means a nursing student who performs 29 tasks that he or she has successfully demonstrated in his or her 30 program of education in accordance with regulations adopted by the 31 State Board of Nursing. 32 (c) “Nursing student” means a person who is: 33 (1) Enrolled in a program of professional nursing or practical 34 nursing at an accredited school of nursing; 35 (2) Taking at least three credits of nursing theory or clinical 36 courses related to nursing in an academic semester; and 37 (3) Continuously progressing toward obtaining a certificate 38 or degree in nursing. 39 Sec. 2. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval. 40 H