HB 382

Abstract

Amends the Nursing Education Scholarship Law. Requires the Department of Public Health to provide nurse educator scholarships, to be awarded for a period of up to 3 years. Provides that within 12 months after graduation from a graduate degree in nursing program for nurse educators, a scholarship recipient shall begin meeting a nurse educator employment obligation consisting of employment in this State as a nurse educator for at least 2 years for each year of scholarship assistance received. Provides that any person who fails to fulfill the nurse educator employment obligation shall pay to the Department an amount equal to the amount of scholarship funds received per year for each unfulfilled year of the nurse educator employment obligation, together with interest at 7% per year on the unpaid balance. Requires the Department to maintain a database of all available nurse educator positions in this State. Amends the Nurse Practice Act to provide that for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009 and for each fiscal year thereafter, $2,000,000 (instead of $1,200,000) of the moneys deposited in the Nursing Dedicated and Professional Fund each year shall be set aside and appropriated for nursing scholarships. Imposes conditions on any rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.