Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REGINALD W. ATKINS
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Hometown Hero Nursing Scholarship Program; appropriates $1 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the Hometown Hero Nursing Scholarship Program, supplementing chapter 6 of Title 18A of the New Jersey 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 act, approved program of study means an undergraduate program leading to an associates or bachelors degree in nursing offered by an institution of higher education; or a practical nursing certificate program leading to a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) offered by an institution of higher education.
b. There is established in the Department of Education the Hometown Hero Nursing Scholarship Program. The purpose of the program shall be to provide assistance to certified nursing assistants and certified medical assistants pursuing a nursing degree or license in nursing.
2. a. In order to be eligible for a scholarship under the program, a student shall:
(1) have met the requirements to become a certified nursing assistant or a certified medical assistant;
(2) be a resident of the State of New Jersey; and
(3) be enrolled in an approved program of study at an institution of higher education in the State.
b. The Department of Education may establish additional eligibility requirements and minimum qualifications for the program.
c. A students scholarship shall remain in effect if the student achieves satisfactory academic progress as defined by the institution and continues to meet the eligibility requirements and minimum qualifications established pursuant to subsections a. and b. of this section.
d. Upon completion of the approved program of study, the student shall be required to seek employment as a nurse in the county in which the student is a resident. If there are not sufficient employment opportunities in the county in which the student is a resident, the student may seek employment as a nurse in a neighboring county.
e. (1) A student who is dismissed from the institution of higher education for academic or disciplinary reasons shall no longer be eligible for the scholarship, and the student shall be required to repay to the department in full the amount of any scholarship received.
(2) A student who received a scholarship under the program who does not complete three full years of employment as a nurse pursuant to subsection d. of this section within five years of receiving an associates degree or bachelors degree in nursing, or a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) obtained during participation in the scholarship program shall repay to the department the amount of any scholarship received.
3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Higher Education the sum of $1,000,000 for the purpose of implementing the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the Hometown Hero Nursing Scholarship Program. The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to certified nursing assistants and certified medical assistants pursuing an associates degree or bachelors degree in nursing, or license to practice as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Upon completion of the license or degree program, the student is required to seek employment as a nurse in the county in which the student is a resident. A student may seek employment as a nurse in neighboring counties if employment opportunities within the county in which they reside are insufficient.
In order to be eligible for a scholarship under the program, a student is required to have already completed the requirements to become a certified nursing assistant or a certified medical assistant; be a resident of the State of New Jersey; and be enrolled in an approved program of study at an institution of higher education in the State. Under the bill, an approved program of study means an undergraduate program leading to an associates or bachelors degree in nursing offered by an institution of higher education; or a practical nursing certificate program leading to a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) offered by an institution of higher education.
A students scholarship would remain in effect provided that the student achieves satisfactory academic progress and continues to meet eligibility requirements. The scholarship would not remain in effect for a student who is dismissed for academic or disciplinary reasons, or does not complete three full years of employment as a nurse within five years of receiving an associates degree or bachelors degree in nursing, or a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) obtained during participation in the scholarship program.