Establishes the nursing education expansion program; appropriation

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1- Legislative Intent.

Section 2 - Nursing Education Expansion Program.

Paragraph 3 - Faculty Development Program

*Will provide colleges and universities with Nursing Programs, grants of $20,000 per faculty member a year (no more than 3 grants per institution) in order to attract and fund additional nursing faculty.

*Currently, a nurse with a PhD can make $80,000 - $90,000 working at a hospital; nursing programs cannot afford to pay a salary that is competitive. This program will help to bridge the gap and attract more qualified nursing teachers.

Paragraph 4- Capital Facility Program

*Provides the funding for the design, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or improvement of nursing facilities, including equipment.

*The nursing programs we have talked to have said that it isn't a problem of attracting the students to nursing, that it is having the physical space to teach them. This program will assist programs in expanding their space in order to teach additional students.

Paragraph 5 Recruitment and Promotion Program

*Provides resources to promote the career of nursing. 50% of these funds must be aimed at attracting high school aged students

Section 3 - Regents Nursing Shortage Scholarship

New York State law already provides for scholarships for doctors who agree to work in underserved areas. This language provides that at least 30% of the Regents Nursing Scholarships go to students who agree to practice in an area of the state that is designated as having a shortage.

Section 4 - County Match Awards for Professional Education in Nursing

This section gives the county the option of providing scholarships to students who intended to study nursing if they agree to practice

nursing in the county granting the scholarship. This will also provide a match from the state. The match shall be no more than $2,500 a year for 4 years. The County can apply for no more than 4 awards at a time;.

Section 5 - Establishes the Nursing Faculty Development Fund, Nursing Capital Facilities Fund, Recruitment and Promotion Program Fund arid the County Match Awards for Professional Education in Nursing Fund.

Section 6 Appropriations - $25,620,000 total

*$3,000,000 to the Nursing Faculty Development Fund

*$20,000,000 to the Nursing Capital Facilities Fund

*$2,000,000 to the Recruitment and Promotion Program Fund

*$620,000 to the County Match Awards for Professional Education in Nursing Fund

Justification

In New York State there is currently a shortage of qualified nursing educators as well as nursing education facilities. These shortages have resulted in long waiting lists for individuals seeking admission to nursing programs and are projected to continue and worsen unless aggressive action is taken. With fewer individuals entering nursing programs, there has become a shortage of available nurses throughout New York State which has deprived New Yorkers of the quality health care they deserve. This program provides incentives that will give nursing programs the resources necessary to expand their programs and allow them to accept more nursing students as well as attract qualified nursing educators. Additionally, the changes the program makes to various nursing scholarships and other awards provide further aid to individuals who hoped to enter nursing school but may not have access to the financial resources necessary to cover its cost.

Prior legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

The sum of twenty-five million six hundred twenty thousand dollars ($25,620,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of education out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the nursing education expansion program fund not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately available, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of education in the manner prescribed by law.

Effective date

This act will take effect immediately; provided, however, that the provisions of paragraph (b) of subdivision 4 of section 209-u of the executive law as added by section two of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed 5 years after such date.