83R2716 KSD-D
By: Guillen H.B. No. 2099
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to improving access to nursing education programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 51.762, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g-1) to read as
follows:
(a) The board, with the assistance of an advisory committee
composed of representatives of general academic teaching
institutions, junior college districts, public state colleges, and
public technical institutes, and with the consultation of all
institutions of higher education that admit freshman-level
students:
(1) shall adopt by rule:
(A) a common admission application form for use
by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to a general
academic teaching institution; [and]
(B) an electronic common admission application
form for use by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to
an institution of higher education that admits freshman-level
students, other than a general academic teaching institution; and
(C) an electronic common admission application
form for use by a person seeking admission to a nursing education
program at an institution of higher education; and
(2) may adopt by rule a printed format common
admission application form for use by a person seeking admission as
a freshman student to an institution of higher education that
admits freshman-level students, other than a general academic
teaching institution.
(g-1) The electronic common admission application form for
use by a person seeking admission to a nursing education program at
an institution of higher education must include a link to
information regarding any available scholarship opportunities for
nursing education degree students at institutions of higher
education.
SECTION 2. Section 61.026, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 61.026. COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES. (a) The
chairman may appoint committees from the board's membership as the
chairman [he] or the board may find necessary from time to time.
The board may appoint advisory committees from outside its
membership as it may deem necessary.
(b) If the board directs an advisory committee to assist the
board in exercising its authority under Section 61.051(j) regarding
an off-campus course in nursing education, including clinical
coursework, the board shall require the advisory committee to
include or consult with one or more career schools or colleges that
are authorized to offer degrees in this state and are located in the
area where the course is to be offered. In this subsection, "career
school or college" has the meaning assigned by Section 132.001.
SECTION 3. Section 61.5391(b), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) Money in the account may not be appropriated for any
purpose except:
(1) to provide loan repayment assistance to eligible
physicians under this subchapter; or
(2) to provide loan repayment assistance under
Subchapter L to eligible faculty of professional nursing programs
for graduate-level nursing education loans.
SECTION 4. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt an electronic common admission application form for
nursing education programs as required by Section 51.762, Education
Code, as amended by this Act, not later than September 1, 2014. An
institution of higher education must accept applications for
nursing education programs using the electronic common admission
application form beginning with applicants for admission for the
2015-2016 academic year.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.