BILL NUMBER: S9646
SPONSOR: CHU
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Nurse of
Tomorrow Act of 2024" to provide for grants to public and not-for-profit
hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, schools and other entities for
nurse recruitment, education and retention costs and activities
 
PURPOSE:
To create a Nurse of Tomorrow program, modeled after the New York State
Teacher of Tomorrow program enacted last year, designed to help allevi-
ate the shortage of qualified registered nurses in hospitals and nursing
homes. The bill would provide various incentives to encourage current
registered nurses to remain in the profession and students to enter the
profession.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends the Education Law by adding a new section 3614 to provide for the
Nurse of Tomorrow recruitment, education and retention incentive
program. Authorizes the commissioner to award grants to public and not-
for-profit hospitals and skilled nursing facilities to provide: salary
bonuses for nurses who make a commitment to work in the hospital or
skilled nursing facility for a multi-year period, and who have not been
practicing nursing for a period of at least five years; skills training
and career development of nurses to become certified in clinical
specialty areas experiencing shortages in hospitals or skilled nursing
facilities; grants to encourage nurses to upgrade their skills to enable
them to work in clinical specialty areas experiencing shortages; salary
bonuses for non-management nurses who recruit nurses that stay employed
at the hospital or skilled nursing facility for at least one year; and
other nurse retention and recruitment strategies approved by the commis-
sioner. Provides for the commissioner to give preference to public and
not-for-profit hospitals and skilled nursing facilities applicants in
financial need as demonstrated by low or negative operating margins, and
to enter into contracts with associate degree granting schools of nurs-
ing, including but not limited to single-purpose degree granting insti-
tutions affiliated with not-for-profit or public hospitals, for the
purpose of expanding the number of students who are provided basic nurse
education at such schools; and provides for the commissioner to give
preference to applicants that have demonstrated the ability to recruit
and create a multicultural student body; provides remedial education to
help students with diverse needs.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that the nation is
suffering from the shortage of nurses. This problem affects all areas,
especially the urban and rural regions. The American Association of
Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reported that enrollments in bachelor's
degree nursing programs have declined consistently over the past five
years nationwide, dropping 4.5% in 1999 alone with enrollments dropping
even more precipitously in the Northeast. As far back as 1996, before
the great decline in the number of qualified nurses was noted, the
National Advisory Council on Nursing Education and Practice (NACNEP)
predicted a shortage of registered nurses (RNs) beginning around 2010.
The NACNEP further estimated that the shortfall would reach over 10% of
supply by 2020. In New York, a 1999 survey done by the Greater New York
Hospital. Association showed high nurse vacancy rates, particularly in
critical care areas, emergency departments, and operating rooms. In
addition, 83% of hospitals reported that more than a third of the direct
care RN workforce is between ages 40 and 49, and in 50% of the hospi-
tals, more than 20% of the direct care RN workforce is between ages 50
and 59. These data raise the concern that a large number of nurses will
be retiring in the near future. Therefore, the aging workforce and low
enrollments of young people in the profession indicate that the shortage
we currently experience will only get worse.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.