S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  4204

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 2, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of A. PERRY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CANES-
  TRARI, COLTON,  COOK,  ENGLEBRIGHT,  GALEF,  GANTT,  HEASTIE,  HOOPER,
  JAFFEE, MAGEE, MILLMAN, PHEFFER, J. RIVERA, P. RIVERA, ROBINSON, SWEE-
  NEY,  TOWNS,  WEISENBERG,  WRIGHT  --  read  once  and referred to the
  Committee on Higher Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Nurse of
  Tomorrow Act of 2011" to provide for grants to public and not-for-pro-
  fit hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, schools and other  entities
  for nurse recruitment, education and retention costs and activities

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
the "Nurse of Tomorrow Act of 2011".
  S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3613 to read
as follows:
  S  3613.  NURSE OF TOMORROW NURSE RECRUITMENT, EDUCATION AND RETENTION
INCENTIVE PROGRAM.  1. NURSE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION GRANTS.   A.  THE
COMMISSIONER  SHALL  AWARD GRANTS TO PUBLIC AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT HOSPITALS
AND SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SHORTAGES IN  NURS-
ING PERSONNEL TO BE UTILIZED TOWARD THE PAYMENT OF THE FOLLOWING COSTS:
  (I)  PROVIDING SALARY BONUSES FOR NURSES WHO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO WORK
IN THE HOSPITAL OR SKILLED NURSING FACILITY FOR A MULTI-YEAR PERIOD;
  (II) PROVIDING SALARY BONUSES FOR NURSES WHO HAVE NOT BEEN  PRACTICING
NURSING FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AND WHO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO
WORK  IN THE HOSPITAL OR SKILLED NURSING FACILITY FOR A MULTI-YEAR PERI-
OD;
  (III) PROVIDING SKILLS TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT  OF  NURSES  TO
BECOME  CERTIFIED  IN CLINICAL SPECIALTY AREAS EXPERIENCING SHORTAGES IN
THE HOSPITAL OR SKILLED NURSING FACILITY;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD01737-01-1

A. 4204                             2
              

  (IV) PROVIDING GRANTS TO ENCOURAGE NURSES TO UPGRADE THEIR  SKILLS  TO
ENABLE  THEM  TO WORK IN CLINICAL SPECIALTY AREAS EXPERIENCING SHORTAGES
IN THE HOSPITAL OR SKILLED NURSING FACILITY;
  (V)  PROVIDING  SALARY  BONUSES  FOR NON-MANAGEMENT NURSES WHO RECRUIT
NURSES THAT STAY EMPLOYED AT THE HOSPITAL OR  SKILLED  NURSING  FACILITY
FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR;
  (VI)  PROVIDING  TUITION  REIMBURSEMENT  FOR  NURSES  WHO PURSUE STUDY
TOWARDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN NURSING OR FOR OTHER HEALTH CARE  WORKERS
WHO PURSUE ASSOCIATE DEGREES IN NURSING;
  (VII)  PROVIDING  STIPENDS  TO  SUPPORT SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR STUDENT
NURSES AT THE HOSPITAL OR SKILLED NURSING FACILITY; AND
  (VIII) OTHER NURSE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT  STRATEGIES  APPROVED  BY
THE COMMISSIONER.
  B.  IN  AWARDING GRANTS PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION, THE COMMISSIONER
SHALL 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.
  2.  BASIC NURSE EDUCATION EXPANSION GRANTS.  A. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
AWARD GRANTS TO AND ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH ASSOCIATE  DEGREE-GRANTING
SCHOOLS  OF NURSING INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SINGLE-PURPOSE DEGREE-
GRANTING INSTITUTIONS AFFILIATED WITH NOT-FOR-PROFIT  OR  PUBLIC  HOSPI-
TALS,  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF  EXPANDING  THE  NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE
PROVIDED BASIC NURSE EDUCATION AT SUCH SCHOOLS.
  B. IN AWARDING GRANTS PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION,  THE  COMMISSIONER
SHALL GIVE PREFERENCE TO APPLICANTS THAT:
  (I)  HAVE  DEMONSTRATED  THE ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND CREATE A MULTICUL-
TURAL STUDENT BODY;
  (II) PROVIDE REMEDIAL EDUCATION TO HELP STUDENTS  WITH  DIVERSE  NEEDS
AND  BACKGROUNDS  TO MASTER THE LANGUAGE, READING AND MATHEMATICS SKILLS
NECESSARY TO ATTAIN A LICENSE;
  (III) PROVIDE THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH  WITH  A
PLAN  TO RECRUIT NURSE AIDES, LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH
CARE WORKERS;
  (IV) PROVIDE THE COMMISSIONER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF  HEALTH  WITH  A
PLAN  TO  BUILD  TECHNOLOGICALLY  MODERN  CLASSROOMS AND LABORATORIES TO
ENABLE STUDENTS TO LEARN THE  LATEST  TECHNOLOGIES  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT
LIMITED TO, MEDICAL ERROR REDUCTION TECHNOLOGIES; AND
  (V)  PROVIDE  THE  COMMISSIONER  AND THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH WITH A
DETAILED PLAN TO SUBSTANTIALLY EXPAND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN
THE SCHOOL OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD.
  3. NURSE EDUCATION ENCOURAGEMENT GRANTS.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL AWARD
GRANTS TO  COLLEGIATE  SCHOOLS  OF  NURSING,  ASSOCIATE  DEGREE-GRANTING
SCHOOLS  OF  NURSING,  DIPLOMA-GRANTING  SCHOOLS OF NURSING, HOSPITAL OR
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, NOT-FOR-PROFIT OR PUBLIC HOSPITALS  AND
SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES TO ENABLE SUCH ENTITIES TO WORK TOGETHER WITH
SCHOOL  DISTRICT  AUTHORITIES TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE SECONDARY
SCHOOL STUDENTS TO CHOOSE NURSING AS A PROFESSION.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.