84R1796 AAF-D
By: Howard H.B. No. 495
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of money from the permanent fund for
health-related programs to provide grants to nursing education
programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 63.202(f) and (g), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(f) Notwithstanding the limitation provided by Subsection
(b), grants awarded under Subsection (c) for the state fiscal
biennium ending on August 31, 2017 [2013], and the fiscal biennium
ending on August 31, 2019 [2015], by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board shall be awarded to programs preparing students
for initial licensure as registered nurses or programs preparing
qualified faculty members with a master's or doctoral degree for
the program, including programs at two-year institutions of higher
education, four-year general academic teaching institutions,
health science centers, and independent or private institutions of
higher education, or to the nursing resource section established
under Section 105.002(b), Health and Safety Code. In awarding
grants under this subsection, the coordinating board may:
(1) give priority to institutions proposing to address
the shortage of registered nurses by promoting innovation in
education, recruitment, and retention of nursing students and
qualified faculty;
(2) award grants on a competitive basis;
(3) consider the availability of matching funds; and
(4) fund a study by the nursing resource section to
evaluate the competencies of clinical judgment and behaviors that
professional nursing students should possess at the time of
graduation.
(g) Subsection (f) and this subsection expire September 1,
2019 [2015].
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.