Bill Text: NY A04039 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Establishes the empire state professional nursing scholarship program to provide financial support to applicants to enter or continue in a registered nurse educational program and who agree to deliver nursing care in a specialty, setting or designated region of New York state having a shortage of nurses or to teach nursing students; establishes grants for nursing education to establish or expand training programs for nurses and to increase the opportunities for nursing education at community based sites.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-08 - referred to higher education [A04039 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A04039-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         4039
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   January 30, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  PRETLOW,  SCHIMMINGER,  ENGLEBRIGHT, LIFTON,
         ABBATE, PAULIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of  A.  O'DONNELL  --  read
         once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
       AN  ACT to amend the education law and the executive law, in relation to
         establishing the empire state professional nursing scholarship program
         and the council on professional career opportunity
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  The  education  law is amended by adding two new sections
    2  6911 and 6912 to read as follows:
    3    S 6911.  EMPIRE STATE PROFESSIONAL NURSING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. 1. THE
    4  COMMISSIONER, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH  AND  THE
    5  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION, IS AUTHORIZED
    6  AND DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH THE EMPIRE STATE PROFESSIONAL NURSING SCHOLAR-
    7  SHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT  TO  APPLICANTS  TO  ENTER  OR
    8  CONTINUE  IN  A  REGISTERED  NURSE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND WHO AGREE TO:
    9  (A) DELIVER NURSING CARE IN A SPECIALTY, SETTING OR REGION OF  NEW  YORK
   10  STATE  DESIGNATED  BY THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMIS-
   11  SIONER OF HEALTH, AS HAVING A SHORTAGE  OF  REGISTERED  NURSES;  OR  (B)
   12  TEACH NURSING STUDENTS.
   13    2.  THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED TO MAKE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS PURSUANT
   14  TO THIS SECTION, AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, TO
   15  DESIGNATE NURSING PRACTICE  SPECIALTIES,  HEALTH  CARE  SETTINGS  AND/OR
   16  REGIONS  IN  NEW  YORK  STATE THAT HAVE A SHORTAGE OF REGISTERED PROFES-
   17  SIONAL NURSES. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH  THE  COMMISSIONER
   18  OF  HEALTH,  SHALL  ESTABLISH A MEANS TO DETERMINE PRIORITY AND RELATIVE
   19  RANKINGS FOR THE PURPOSES OF AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS BASED ON  PREFERENCES
   20  DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISIONS FOUR, FIVE AND SIX OF THIS SECTION.
   21    3.  A SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT SHALL BE A RESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE WHO:
   22  (A) ATTENDS OR PLANS TO ATTEND A NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE STATE;
   23  AND (B) AGREES TO  PRACTICE  AS  A  REGISTERED  NURSE  IN  A  DESIGNATED
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD07612-01-3
       A. 4039                             2
    1  SPECIALITY,  SETTING  OR  REGION;  OR  (C) AGREES TO PRACTICE AS A NURSE
    2  EDUCATOR. A SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT SHALL BE ENTITLED TO AN AWARD OF UP TO
    3  FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR OF STUDY. SCHOLARSHIPS MAY BE  AWARDED
    4  FOR  PART-TIME STUDY, AND ARE CALCULATED BASED ON THE STUDENT'S EXPENSES
    5  TO ATTEND NURSING SCHOOL. SUCH EXPENSES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMIT-
    6  ED TO, COST OF ATTENDANCE AT AN  UNDERGRADUATE  OR  GRADUATE  SCHOOL  OF
    7  NURSING,  SUCH  AS  TUITION,  LABORATORY AND OTHER FEES, ROOM AND BOARD,
    8  TRANSPORTATION,  SUPPLIES,  UNIFORMS,  HEALTH  INSURANCE  COVERAGE,   IF
    9  REQUIRED,  SUPPLIES,  BOOKS,  CHILD  CARE,  AND  COSTS  TO SUPPORT DAILY
   10  LIVING.
   11    4. SCHOLARSHIPS SHALL BE AWARDED COMPETITIVELY USING SELECTION  CRITE-
   12  RIA  LISTED  IN  THIS  SUBDIVISION.  IN SELECTING STUDENTS TO BE AWARDED
   13  SCHOLARSHIPS, PREFERENCE SHALL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS WHO ARE:
   14    (A) FIRST, ENTERING OR CONTINUING IN  A  PROGRAM  IN  NEW  YORK  STATE
   15  APPROVED OR REGISTERED BY THE REGENTS, LEADING TO A BACHELOR'S OR GRADU-
   16  ATE DEGREE IN NURSING;
   17    (B)  SECOND, ENTERING OR CONTINUING IN A PROGRAM LEADING TO A GRADUATE
   18  DEGREE THAT QUALIFIES THE RECIPIENT  TO  TEACH  NURSING  STUDENTS  IN  A
   19  PROGRAM IN NEW YORK STATE APPROVED OR REGISTERED BY THE REGENTS;
   20    (C) THIRD, HAVE EVIDENCE OF ACADEMIC MERIT;
   21    (D) FOURTH, ARE MEMBERS OF A FEDERALLY-RECOGNIZED MINORITY GROUP;
   22    (E) FIFTH, HAVE EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL NEED; AND
   23    (F) SIXTH, HAVE PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE IN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS.
   24    5.  AFTER  THE FIRST YEAR OF AWARDS, HIGHEST PREFERENCE SHALL BE GIVEN
   25  TO RECIPIENTS APPLYING FOR SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT YEARS OF FUNDING.
   26    6. IN THE EVENT THAT THERE ARE  MORE  APPLICANTS  WHO  HAVE  THE  SAME
   27  PRIORITY  THAN  THERE  ARE  REMAINING  AWARDS,  OR THERE ARE MORE AWARDS
   28  AVAILABLE THAN APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE ABOVE CRITERIA, THE COMMISSIONER,
   29  IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH,  SHALL  DISTRIBUTE  THE
   30  REMAINING  AWARDS  BASED  UPON  CONSIDERATIONS AS MAY BE DEEMED MUTUALLY
   31  AGREEABLE.  THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH SHALL DIRECT
   32  THAT THE AWARDS  ARE  DISTRIBUTED  TO  ENSURE  APPROPRIATE  GEOGRAPHICAL
   33  DISTRIBUTION WITHIN AREAS OF NEED.
   34    7. WITHIN SUCH TIME AS THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BY REGULATION PROVIDE, A
   35  RECIPIENT OF AN AWARD SHALL AGREE TO PRACTICE NURSING FOR A PERIOD OF NO
   36  LESS  THAN EIGHTEEN MONTHS, OR SERVE AS NURSING FACULTY FOR NO LESS THAN
   37  THREE SEMESTERS, FOR EACH ANNUAL AWARD TO BE RECEIVED BY THE  RECIPIENT.
   38  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  SECURE FROM EACH RECIPIENT A WRITTEN AGREEMENT
   39  TO:
   40    (A) PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL NURSING SERVICES IN A  DESIGNATED  SPECIALTY,
   41  SETTING OR REGION; AND WORK IN A PRACTICE SITE THAT SERVES (I) BENEFICI-
   42  ARIES  OF  TITLE  XVIII  OF  THE  FEDERAL SOCIAL SECURITY ACT (MEDICARE)
   43  AND/OR (II) INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE  FOR  MEDICAL  ASSISTANCE  PURSUANT  TO
   44  TITLE  ELEVEN  OF  ARTICLE  FIVE OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW AND/OR (III)
   45  INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR A  STATE  SPONSORED  HEALTH  INSURANCE  PROGRAM
   46  AND/OR  (IV)  INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNINSURED; AND PROVIDE AT LEAST THIRTY
   47  HOURS DURING EACH REGULAR WORK WEEK OF DIRECT PATIENT CARE IN  A  DESIG-
   48  NATED SHORTAGE SPECIALTY, SETTING OR REGION; OR
   49    (B) TEACH NURSING STUDENTS.
   50    8.  IF  A  RECIPIENT  FAILS  TO COMPLY FULLY WITH SUCH CONDITIONS, THE
   51  PRESIDENT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION SHALL BE ENTITLED
   52  TO RECEIVE FROM SUCH RECIPIENT AN AMOUNT TO BE DETERMINED BY THE  FORMU-
   53  LA:
   54                                A = 2B (T-S)
   55                                    --------
   56                                         T
       A. 4039                             3
    1  IN  WHICH "A" IS THE AMOUNT THE PRESIDENT IS ENTITLED TO RECOVER, "B" IS
    2  THE SUM OF ALL AWARDS MADE TO THE RECIPIENT AND  THE  INTEREST  ON  SUCH
    3  AMOUNT WHICH WOULD BE PAYABLE IF AT THE TIMES SUCH AWARDS WERE PAID THEY
    4  WERE  LOANS  BEARING INTEREST AT THE MAXIMUM PREVAILING RATE; "T" IS THE
    5  TOTAL  NUMBER OF MONTHS IN THE RECIPIENT'S PERIOD OF OBLIGATED SERVICES;
    6  AND "S" IS THE NUMBER OF MONTHS OF  SERVICE  ACTUALLY  RENDERED  BY  THE
    7  RECIPIENT.  ANY  AMOUNT WHICH THE PRESIDENT IS ENTITLED TO RECOVER UNDER
    8  THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE PAID WITHIN THE FIVE-YEAR  PERIOD  BEGINNING  ON
    9  THE  DATE  THAT  THE RECIPIENT FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THIS SERVICE CONDI-
   10  TION. NOTHING IN THE WRITTEN AGREEMENT SHALL AFFECT THE TERMS OF EMPLOY-
   11  MENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SHALL NEGOTIATE, SEPARATE AND APART FROM  THE
   12  PROGRAM, HIS OR HER SALARY AND OTHER FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT WITH AN AGENCY,
   13  INSTITUTION OR A PROGRAM IN WHICH HE OR SHE SHALL BE EMPLOYED. ANY OBLI-
   14  GATION  TO COMPLY WITH SUCH PROVISIONS AS OUTLINED IN THIS SECTION SHALL
   15  BE CANCELED UPON THE DEATH OF  THE  RECIPIENT.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL
   16  PROMULGATE  REGULATIONS  TO  PROVIDE FOR THE WAIVER OR SUSPENSION OF ANY
   17  FINANCIAL OBLIGATION WHEN COMPLIANCE  WOULD  INVOLVE  EXTREME  HARDSHIP.
   18  ANY  OBLIGATION  TO  COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OUTLINED IN THIS SECTION
   19  SHALL BE CANCELLED UPON THE DEATH OF THE RECIPIENT.
   20    9. A RECIPIENT OF AN AWARD SHALL REPORT ANNUALLY TO THE NEW YORK STATE
   21  HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION, ON FORMS PRESCRIBED BY THE PRESI-
   22  DENT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES CORPORATION, AS TO THE PERFORMANCE
   23  OF THE REQUIRED SERVICES, COMMENCING WITH THE CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH THE
   24  RECIPIENT HAS COMPLETED THE EDUCATIONAL COURSE OF STUDY  AND  CONTINUING
   25  UNTIL THE RECIPIENT SHALL HAVE COMPLETED, OR UNTIL IT IS DETERMINED THAT
   26  HE  OR SHE SHALL NOT BE OBLIGATED TO COMPLETE, THE REQUIRED SERVICES. IF
   27  THE RECIPIENT SHALL FAIL TO FILE ANY REPORT  REQUIRED  HEREUNDER  WITHIN
   28  THIRTY  DAYS  OF  WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE RECIPIENT, MAILED TO THE ADDRESS
   29  SHOWN ON THE LAST APPLICATION FOR AN AWARD OR LAST REPORT FILED,  WHICH-
   30  EVER  IS LATER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CORPORATION MAY IMPOSE A FINE OF UP
   31  TO ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE PRESIDENT  SHALL  HAVE  THE  DISCRETION  TO
   32  WAIVE  THE  FILING OF A REPORT, EXCUSE A DELAY IN FILING OR A FAILURE TO
   33  FILE A REPORT, OR WAIVE OR REDUCE ANY FINE IMPOSED FOR GOOD CAUSE SHOWN.
   34    10. THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED TO APPLY ANY FUNDS APPROPRIATED  TO
   35  IMPLEMENT  THIS SECTION AS MATCHING FUNDS FOR ANY FEDERAL NURSING EDUCA-
   36  TION PROGRAMS GRANTS THAT MAY BE OR BECOME AVAILABLE WHOSE CRITERIA  ARE
   37  SIMILAR TO THOSE STATED IN THIS CHAPTER.
   38    S  6912. GRANTS FOR NURSING EDUCATION. 1. THE COMMISSIONER, IN COLLAB-
   39  ORATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, IS AUTHORIZED TO MAKE GRANTS TO
   40  COLLEGES, OR UNIVERSITIES WITHIN NEW YORK STATE TO ESTABLISH  OR  EXPAND
   41  TRAINING  PROGRAMS  FOR  REGISTERED  PROFESSIONAL NURSES, CLINICAL NURSE
   42  SPECIALISTS, AND NURSE EDUCATORS AND TO INCREASE THE  OPPORTUNITIES  FOR
   43  NURSING EDUCATION AT COMMUNITY-BASED SITES.
   44    2. GRANT FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY RECRUITMENT AND
   45  DEVELOPMENT, START-UP COSTS AND COSTS INCURRED TEACHING NURSING STUDENTS
   46  AT  COMMUNITY-BASED  SITES,  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT LIMITED TO, PERSONNEL,
   47  ADMINISTRATION AND STUDENT RELATED EXPENSES AND  OTHER  EXPENSES  JUDGED
   48  REASONABLE AND NECESSARY BY THE COMMISSIONER.
   49    3.  GRANTS  SHALL  BE AWARDED ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS IN AMOUNTS NOT TO
   50  EXCEED AN AGGREGATE OF TWO HUNDRED  FIFTY  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  THROUGH  A
   51  REQUEST  FOR  APPLICATION  PROCESS.  IN  MAKING AWARDS, THE COMMISSIONER
   52  SHALL CONSIDER:
   53    (A) THE NEED FOR REGISTERED NURSES,  CLINICAL  NURSE  SPECIALISTS  AND
   54  NURSE  EDUCATORS  IN THE SPECIALTY AND IN THE REGION IN WHICH THE APPLI-
   55  CANT IS LOCATED;
   56    (B) THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROPOSAL; AND
       A. 4039                             4
    1    (C) THE APPLICANT'S COMMITMENT TO PLACE GRADUATES IN NURSING POSITIONS
    2  IN DESIGNATED SPECIALTIES, SETTINGS AND/OR REGIONS.
    3    4.  THE  INTENT  OF  THE  PROGRAM  IS  TO AUGMENT OR INCREASE TRAINING
    4  PROGRAMS FOR REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSES, BOTH  AT  ENTRY  LEVEL  AND
    5  GRADUATE  LEVELS  INCLUDING BACCALAUREATE COMPLETION PROGRAMS, SPECIALTY
    6  CERTIFICATE, MASTER'S AND DOCTORAL DEGREES. GRANT FUNDING SHALL  NOT  BE
    7  USED  TO  OFFSET  EXISTING  EXPENDITURES  THE INSTITUTION OR PROGRAM HAS
    8  OBLIGATED OR INTENDS TO OBLIGATE FOR SUCH TRAINING PROGRAMS.
    9    S 2. Section 942 of the executive law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
   10  subdivision 7 to read as follows:
   11    7.  FOR  THE PURPOSE OF ADVISING AND ASSISTING THE COUNCIL IN CARRYING
   12  OUT ITS POWERS AND DUTIES IN REGARD TO NURSING EDUCATION THERE IS HEREBY
   13  ESTABLISHED AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE  ON  NURSING  EDUCATION  COMPRISED  OF
   14  ELEVEN  MEMBERS.  THE  MEMBERS AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
   15  SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COUNCIL  AND  SHALL  INCLUDE
   16  REPRESENTATIVES  OF PUBLIC AND INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCA-
   17  TION OFFERING AN APPROVED PROGRAM IN NURSING AND REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL
   18  NURSES AUTHORIZED OR LICENSED TO PRACTICE NURSING WITHIN  THE  STATE  OF
   19  NEW YORK. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL INCLUDE MINORI-
   20  TY REPRESENTATION.
   21    S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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