88R10177 KJE-D
By: A. Johnson of Harris H.B. No. 4104
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a nursing dual credit pilot program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter D to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D. NURSING DUAL CREDIT PILOT PROGRAM
Sec. 28.101. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "College" means Houston Community College.
(2) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(3) "District" means the Houston Independent School
District.
(4) "School of nursing" means The University of Texas
Health Science Center at Houston Cizik School of Nursing.
Sec. 28.102. NURSING DUAL CREDIT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) From
money appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the
agency and the coordinating board jointly shall establish a nursing
dual credit pilot program through which students enrolled at
Houston Independent School District may graduate from high school
with a certificate in licensed vocational nursing from Houston
Community College, with assistance from The University of Texas
Health Science Center at Houston Cizik School of Nursing.
(b) The pilot program must:
(1) provide for an introductory summer nursing day
camp for interested students who are entering eighth grade;
(2) require students to apply to participate in the
pilot program during the students' eighth grade year;
(3) provide for a three-week summer nursing boot camp
for participating students entering ninth grade;
(4) provide for each participating student to be
jointly enrolled in high school in the district and in the college's
licensed vocational nursing certificate program beginning with the
student's ninth grade year;
(5) enable each participating student to graduate from
high school with a certificate in licensed vocational nursing;
(6) enable participating students to continue
postsecondary education after graduation from high school by
completing at the college:
(A) the associate degree in nursing program; or
(B) the prerequisites for the bachelor of science
in nursing program at the school of nursing; and
(7) require the school of nursing to assist
participating students by:
(A) pairing each participating student with a
nurse mentor to assist the student throughout the student's
participation in the program;
(B) providing preparatory courses for:
(i) the required examinations for admission
to the associate degree in nursing program at the college or the
bachelor of science in nursing program at the school of nursing; and
(ii) the examinations for licensure as a
licensed vocational nurse or as a registered nurse; and
(C) ensuring that the students complete the
prerequisites for the associate degree in nursing program at the
college and the bachelor of science in nursing program at the school
of nursing.
Sec. 28.103. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of
each year, the district, the college, and the school of nursing
jointly shall prepare and submit to the agency and the coordinating
board a report on the pilot program. The report must include
information regarding the curriculum and student recruitment
efforts.
Sec. 28.104. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. The agency and
the coordinating board jointly shall enter into a memorandum of
understanding with the district, the college, and the school of
nursing regarding the allocation of money to those institutions for
the pilot program.
Sec. 28.105. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than
September 1, 2028, the agency and the coordinating board jointly
shall submit to the legislature a report that:
(1) evaluates the success of the pilot program; and
(2) makes recommendations regarding the continuation
or expansion of the pilot program.
Sec. 28.106. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September
1, 2029.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2024, the Houston
Independent School District, Houston Community College, and The
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Cizik School
of Nursing jointly shall submit the initial report required under
Section 28.103, Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. 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, 2023.