S.B. No. 25

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 61.655, Education Code 61.656, Education Code 61.658, Education Code 61.9822, Education Code 61.9823, Education Code 63.202 (Education Code 63, Education Code 61)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 61.655, Education Code 61.656, Education Code 61.658, Education Code 61.9822, Education Code 61.9823, Education Code 63.202 (Education Code 63, Education Code 61)
Engrossed: Education Code 61.651, Education Code 61.655, Education Code 61.656, Education Code 61.658, Education Code 61.9822, Education Code 61.9823, Education Code 63.202 (Education Code 63, Education Code 61)
House Committee Report: Education Code 61.651, Education Code 61.655, Education Code 61.656, Education Code 61.658, Education Code 61.9822, Education Code 61.9823, Education Code 63.202 (Education Code 63, Education Code 61)
Enrolled: Education Code 61.651, Education Code 61.655, Education Code 61.656, Education Code 61.658, Education Code 61.9822, Education Code 61.9823, Education Code 63.202 (Education Code 63, Education Code 61)

	AN ACT
	relating to support for nursing-related postsecondary education,
	including scholarships to nursing students, loan repayment
	assistance to nurses and nursing faculty, and grants to nursing
	education programs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 61.651(1), Education Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(1)  "Professional nursing student" means a student
	enrolled in [an institution of higher education or a private or
	independent institution of higher education in] a course of study
	leading to an initial or an advanced degree in professional nursing
	at:
	(A)  an institution of higher education;
	(B)  a private or independent institution of
	higher education; or
	(C)  a nonprofit, tax-exempt, regionally
	accredited college or university operating in accordance with a
	memorandum of understanding with this state under an executive
	order issued by the governor.
	SECTION 2.  Section 61.655, Education Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 61.655.  PURPOSE; ELIGIBILITY. (a) A scholarship
	program[, matching fund program,] or loan repayment program
	established under this subchapter shall be established and
	administered in a manner that the board determines best promotes
	the health care and educational needs of this state.
	(b)  The board may establish multiple categories of persons
	to receive scholarships[, matching funds,] and loan repayments.
	The board may include faculty from professional nursing programs
	with master's degrees or doctorates among the categories of persons
	authorized to receive loan repayments.
	(c)  Each year funds are available, the board shall establish
	the categories of persons eligible to receive scholarships[,
	matching funds,] and loan repayments and the criteria for selecting
	persons to be assisted under each category. The criteria:
	(1)  must include that the person be enrolled in, or
	have outstanding student loans for education received at, as
	applicable to the program:
	(A)  an institution of higher education;
	(B)  a private or independent institution of
	higher education; or
	(C)  a nonprofit college or university described
	by Section 61.651(1)(C); and
	(2)  may include:
	(A) [(1)]  scholastic ability and performance;
	(B) [(2)]  financial need;
	(C) [(3)]  the geographical area in which the
	person is likely to practice;
	(D) [(4)]  whether the person receives Temporary
	Assistance for Needy Families [Aid to Families with Dependent
	Children] or participates in another public welfare program;
	(E) [(5)]  employment by a state agency;
	(F) [(6)]  employment on a nursing school faculty
	or a person's intention to seek employment on a nursing school
	faculty;
	(G) [(7)]  whether the person is practicing in a
	geographical area, a practice setting, or an area of practice with
	an acute nursing shortage or is likely to practice in such an area;
	(H) [(8)]  the type of certificate or academic
	degree held or pursued; or
	(I) [(9)]  any additional factors the board
	considers relevant to promoting the health care and educational
	needs of the state.
	SECTION 3.  Section 61.656, Education Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as
	follows:
	(d)  The board shall distribute information about the
	scholarship program[, matching fund program,] and loan repayment
	program established under this subchapter to:
	(1)  employers of registered nurses or licensed