This bill establishes a program within the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN) aimed at providing financial, material, and technical support to veterans memorial homes in New Jersey for the implementation of residency programs for licensed practical nurses and registered professional nurses. The NJCCN will set requirements for these residency programs, which must include a 12-month timeline, full-time schedules for residents, preceptor support, and data collection on residency completion and employment retention. Veterans memorial homes will apply for participation in the program, and applications will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis.

To fund this initiative, the bill appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to the NJCCN. Additionally, it amends existing law to require the NJCCN to include specific data in its reports to the Governor and Legislature, such as participation rates of veterans memorial homes in the program and funds spent on support provided to these homes. The bill is set to take effect on the first day of the twelfth month following its enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:65-92