S4028

An Act concerning nurses, supplementing Title 34 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. As used in this section:

"Authority" means the New Jersey Economic Development Authority established by section 4 of P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-4).

"Chief Executive Officer" means the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

“Eligible nursing education program” means an accredited nursing education program located in the State at a public institution of higher education, independent institution of higher education, or hospital-based nursing school.

“Program” means the Nursing School Expansion Grant Program established pursuant to this section.

b. There is established the Nursing School Expansion Grant Program to be administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The program shall provide grants to eligible nursing education programs in the State to increase their capacity and improve the supply of the nursing workforce.

c. An eligible nursing education program may submit an application for grant funding through the program to the Chief Executive Officer. An application shall include information and data, in such form and in such manner as is required by the Chief Executive Officer, on:

(1) the enrollment and graduation rates for the three academic years preceding the date of the application;

(2) the projected plan to increase enrollment and graduation targets;

(3) the demographic profile of current students, faculty, and staff and specific plans to increase the diversity of the nursing workforce;

(4) any plans for faculty expansions in order to meet the needs of an increased student body;

(5) any partnerships, connections, or pathways between licensed practical nursing programs, diploma or certificate programs, associate’s degree programs, baccalaureate degree programs, and graduate level programs in nursing and nursing education;

(6) student pass rates for examinations administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing; and

(7) such other information as the Chief Executive Officer may require.

d. The Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing, shall develop criteria for the evaluation of applications for grants. Based upon the criteria developed, and within the limits of available appropriations, the Chief Executive Officer shall award grants to eligible nursing education programs in such amounts as the Chief Executive Officer determines.

2. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as shall be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority the sum of $25,000,000 to effectuate the purposes of this act. The authority shall issue grants in the amount of $24,500,000 and shall expend no more than $500,000 for the administrative costs of the program.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

The bill establishes the Nursing School Expansion Grant Program, which will be administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Under the bill, the program will provide grants to eligible nursing education programs in the State to increase their capacity and improve the supply of the nursing workforce. The bill also appropriates $25 million from the General Fund to the authority for the bill’s purposes.

Under the bill, an eligible nursing education program may submit an application for grant funding through the program to the Chief Executive Officer. An application is required to include information and data, in such form and in such manner as is required by the Chief Executive Officer, on:

(1) the enrollment and graduation rates for the three academic years preceding the date of the application;

(2) the projected plan to increase enrollment and graduation targets;

(3) the demographic profile of current students, faculty, and staff and specific plans to increase the diversity of the nursing workforce;

(4) any plans for faculty expansions in order to meet the needs of an increased student body;

(6) student pass rates for examinations administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing; and

(7) such other information as the Chief Executive Officer may require.

The bill directs the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing, to develop criteria for the evaluation of applications for grants. Based upon the criteria developed, and within the limit of available appropriations, the Chief Executive Officer will award grants to eligible nursing education programs in such amounts as the officer determines.

The bill directs the authority to issue grants in the amount of $24,500,000 and provides that no more than $500,000 may be expended by the authority for the administrative costs of the program.