South Carolina General Assembly
116th Session, 2005-2006

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S. 1137

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Lourie, Peeler, McGill, Leventis, Rankin, Hayes, Malloy, Pinckney, Courson, Patterson, Ford, Short, Drummond, Elliott, Land, Setzler and Thomas
Document Path: l:\council\bills\nbd\12063ac06.doc

Introduced in the Senate on February 9, 2006
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Medical Affairs

Summary: Nurse Faculty Scholars Act

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
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    2/9/2006  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-6
    2/9/2006  Senate  Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-6

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/9/2006

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO ENACT THE "NURSE FACULTY SCHOLARS ACT", BY AMENDING THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLES 4 AND 8 TO CHAPTER 33, TITLE 40 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA NURSING SCHOLARS COMMISSION AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP, POWERS, AND DUTIES, INCLUDING OVERSEEING THE NURSING FACULTY SCHOLARS PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIP LOANS TO NURSES TO OBTAIN BACCALAUREATE AND MASTERS DEGREES IN NURSING, AND WHICH PROVIDES FOR LOAN FORGIVENESS IF SUCH STUDENTS TEACH NURSING IN THE STATE; AND TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA CENTER FOR PROFESSIONAL NURSE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT, TO ADDRESS ISSUES CONCERNING RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND UTILIZATION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSE MANPOWER RESOURCES, TO ESTABLISH A BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE CENTER AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERS, POWERS, AND DUTIES, AND TO ESTABLISH A HIGHER EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND A NURSE MANPOWER UTILIZATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR MEMBERS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    This act may be cited as the "Nurse Faculty Scholars Act".

SECTION    2.    Chapter 33, Title 40 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 4

Nursing Faculty Scholars Program

Section 40-33-310.    (A)    There is established the South Carolina Nursing Faculty Scholars Commission. The commission shall exercise its powers and duties independently, and in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education and the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education. Staff assistance to the commission must be provided by the staff of the State Education Assistance Authority as provided for in Chapter 115, Title 59.

(B)    The commission shall consist of the following members:

(1)    the chairperson of the State Board of Nursing, or a designee;

(2)    the chairperson of the State Budget and Control Board;

(3)    three persons appointed by the Governor, at least two of whom must be registered nurses, one of whom must have a minimum of a master's degree in nursing;

(4)    three persons appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, at least two of whom must be registered nurses, one of whom must have a minimum of a master's degree in nursing; and

(5)    three persons appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, at least two of whom must be registered nurses, one of whom must have a minimum of a master's degree in nursing.

(C)    Each of the appointing authorities shall seek to achieve a balanced membership representing, to the maximum extent possible, the State as a whole. Commission members must be chosen from among individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to nursing, health care, or education.

(D)    Of the commission members appointed by the Governor, two shall each serve an initial term of two years, and one shall serve an initial term of four years. Of the commission members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one shall serve an initial term of two years, and two shall each serve an initial term of four years. Of the commission members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one shall serve an initial term of two years, and two shall each serve an initial term of four years. Thereafter, all members shall serve terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualify.

(E)    A vacancy occurring for any reason must be filled by the appointing authority for that position for the unexpired portion of the term. The new appointee shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(F)    The chairperson of the commission must be selected annually by the commission from its members.

(G)    Members of the commission shall receive mileage, per diem, and subsistence as provided by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions.

(H)    The commission shall meet regularly at times and places considered necessary by the chairperson.

Section 40-33-320.    (A)    There is established the Nursing Faculty Scholars Program. The South Carolina Nursing Scholars Commission shall determine selection criteria and methods of selection and shall select recipients of scholarship loans awarded by the Nursing Faculty Scholars Program.

(B)(1)    The Nursing Faculty Scholars Program must provide:

(a)    a two-year scholarship loan of eight thousand dollars a year for each recipient, for two years of baccalaureate study in nursing for registered nurses who do not hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing, followed by a two-year scholarship loan of ten thousand dollars a year, for each recipient, for two years of study leading to a master of science in nursing degree;

(b)    a two-year scholarship loan of ten thousand dollars a year, for each recipient, for two years of study leading to a master of science in nursing degree for people already holding a baccalaureate degree in nursing.

(2)    In addition to the scholarship loans awarded pursuant to subsection (B)(1), the commission may award pro rata scholarship loans to recipients enrolled at least halftime in study leading to a master of science degree in nursing who already hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing and to recipients enrolled at least halftime in study leading to a baccalaureate degree in nursing who already are licensed as registered nurses.

(3)    In awarding all scholarship loans, the commission shall give priority to full-time students over part-time students. The State Education Assistance Authority shall promulgate specific regulations to administer scholarship loans to part-time master of science in nursing students and part-time baccalaureate degree students.

(C)    The commission shall adopt stringent standards, which may include minimum grade point averages and other standards considered appropriate by the commission, to ensure that only students with the best potential receive loans under the Nursing Faculty Scholars Program. The commission shall adopt standards that include provisions to ensure that the qualifications of applicants who are or would be nontraditional students are considered fairly and provided opportunities to compete for the loans. Loans under the Nursing Faculty Scholars Program must be awarded only to applicants who meet the standards set by the commission and who agree to teach nursing in South Carolina institutions of higher education and technical colleges who have accredited nursing programs upon completion of the Nursing Faculty Scholars program supported by the loan.

(D)    The commission shall develop and administer the Nursing Faculty Scholars Program in cooperation with nursing schools at institutions approved by the commission and the South Carolina Board of Nursing. The Nursing Faculty Scholars Program shall expose participants to a range of extracurricular activities while in school, and these activities must be aimed at instilling in students a strong motivation to remain in the practice of nursing and to provide leadership for the nursing profession.

(E)    The commission may form regional review committees to assist in identifying the best applicants for the program. The commission and the review committees shall make an effort to identify and encourage minority students and students who may not otherwise consider a career in nursing to apply for the Nursing Faculty Scholars Program.

(F)    Upon the naming of recipients of loans from the Nursing Faculty Scholars Program, the commission shall inform the State Education Assistance Authority of its decisions. The authority shall perform all of the administrative functions necessary to implement this article including, but not limited to:

(1)    promulgation of regulations;

(2)    dissemination of information to the public;

(3)    distribution and receipt of applications for scholarship loans; and

(4)    execution, payment, and enforcement of promissory notes required under this article.

Section 40-33-330.    (A)    All scholarship loans must be evidenced by notes made payable to the State Education Assistance Authority that bear interest at the rate established by the authority and provided for in the scholarship loan agreement beginning ninety days after completion of the Nursing Faculty Scholars Program or ninety days after termination of the scholarship loan, whichever is earlier. The scholarship loan may be terminated upon the recipient's withdrawal from school or by the recipient's failure to meet the standards set by the commission.

(B)(1)    The State Education Assistance Authority shall forgive a loan awarded pursuant to the Nursing Faculty Scholars Program if, within one year of completing the program, the recipient begins teaching nursing in South Carolina institutions of higher education, including technical colleges, that have accredited nursing programs. The recipient must teach one year for every year the scholarship loan was provided. If the recipient repays the scholarship loan by cash payments, all indebtedness must be repaid within five years.

(2)    The authority may forgive the scholarship loan if it determines that it is impossible for the recipient to teach nursing in South Carolina for a sufficient time to repay the loan because of the death or permanent disability of the recipient within five years following graduation or termination of enrollment in a nursing faculty education program.

(C)    All funds appropriated to or otherwise received by the Nursing Faculty Scholars Program for scholarships, all funds received as repayment of scholarship loans, and all interest earned on these funds, must be placed in a revolving fund. This revolving fund may be used only for scholarship loans granted under the Nursing Faculty Scholars Program.

Article 8

Professional Nurse Retention and Recruitment

Section 40-33-610.    The General Assembly finds that it is imperative that the State protect its investment and progress made in its efforts to date to retain and recruit professional nurses. The General Assembly further finds that establishing the South Carolina Center for Professional Nurse Retention and Recruitment is the appropriate means to provide this protection. The General Assembly, in the annual general appropriations act, shall appropriate funds for the operations of the center sufficient to carry out the center's duties and responsibilities under this article.

Section 40-33-620.    There is established the South Carolina Center for Professional Nurse Retention and Recruitment to address immediate and ongoing issues of supply and demand for professional nursing, including issues of retention, recruitment, and utilization of professional nurse manpower resources. The center shall:

(1)    develop a strategic statewide plan for professional nursing manpower in the State by:

(a)    establishing and maintaining a database on professional nursing supply and demand in the State, including current supply and demand and future projections; and

(b)    selecting priorities from the plan to be addressed;

(2)    convene various groups representative of professional nurses, other health care providers, business and industry, consumers, and educators to:

(a)    review and comment on data analysis prepared for the center;

(b)    recommend systemic changes, including strategies for implementation of recommended changes; and

(c)    evaluate and report the results of these efforts to the Governor;

(3)    enhance and promote recognition, reward, and renewal activities for nurses in the State by:

(a)    promoting media and positive image-building efforts for professional nursing;

(b)    collaborating with entities to continue currently established programs of recognition and reward; and

(c)    promoting and creating additional rewards and recognition for professional nurses.

Section 40-33-630.    (A)    The South Carolina Center for Professional Nurse Retention and Recruitment must be governed by a board of directors comprised of:

(1)    the director, or a designee of:

(a)    the South Carolina Organization of Nurse Executives;

(b)    the South Carolina Nurses Association;

(2)    a member or designee of the State Board of Nursing;

(3)    a member to be appointed by the Governor;

(4)    a member of the Senate to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore;

(5)    a member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(6)    the director of the Commission on Higher Education, or a designee;

(7)    the president of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, or a designee.

(B)    The Higher Education Advisory Committee to the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Center for Professional Nurse Retention and Recruitment is established and comprised of the dean, chair, or designee of:

(a)    the Associate Degree Nurse Program, Aiken Technical College;

(b)    the Division of Nursing, Bob Jones University;

(c)    the Associate Degree Nurse Program, Central Carolina Technical College;

(d)    the School of Nursing, Charleston Southern University;

(e)    the School of Nursing, Clemson University;

(f)    the Nursing Program, Florence Darlington Technical College;

(g)    the Nursing Program, Francis Marion University;

(h)    the Division of Nursing, Greenville Technical College;

(i)     the Department of Nursing, Horry-Georgetown Technical College;

(j)        the Department of Nursing, Lander University;

(k)     the College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina;

(l)     the Department of Nursing, Midlands Technical College

(m)     the Department of Nursing, Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College;

(n)    the Department of Nursing Education, Piedmont Technical College;

(o)    the Department of Nursing, South Carolina State University;

(p)    the Department of Nursing, Spartanburg Technical College;

(q)    the Division of Health Sciences, Technical College of the Lowcountry;

(r)    the Associate Degree Nurse Program, TriCounty Technical College;

(s)    the Department of Nursing, Trident Technical College;

(t)     the Department of Nursing, University of South Carolina-Aiken;

(u)     the College of Nursing, University of South Carolina-Columbia;

(v)    the School of Nursing, University of South Carolina-Upstate;

(w)    the Associate Degree Nurse Department, York Technical College;

(C)    The Nurse Manpower Utilization Advisory Committee to the South Carolina Center for Professional Nurse Retention and Recruitment is established and comprised of the director or a designee of:

(1)    the Department of Health and Environmental Control;

(2)    the Department of Health and Human Services;

(3)    the Department of Mental Health;

(4)    the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs;

(5)    the Department of Social Services;

(6)    the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services;

(7)    the South Carolina Hospital Association.

(D)    The Board of Directors of the South Carolina Center for Professional Nurse Retention and Recruitment shall:

(1)    employ an executive director;

(2)    determine operational policy;

(3)    elect a chairperson and officers, who shall serve two-year terms, and who may not succeed themselves;

(4)    establish committees of the board as needed;

(5)    carry out the responsibilities of the center as provided for in Section 40-33-320;

(6)    seek and accept nonstate funds for carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the center.

(E)    The members of the board shall receive mileage, per diem, and subsistence as provide by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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