NY State Senate Bill 2017-S2681

Senate Bill S2681

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Enacts the "Nurse of Tomorrow Act of 2017" to provide for grants to certain hospitals, schools and other entities for nurse recruitment, education and retention

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2018	referred to higher education
Jan 17, 2017	referred to higher education

co-Sponsors

2017-S2681 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §3614, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S2542
2011-2012: S1145
2013-2014: S2640
2015-2016: S1407
2019-2020: S3796

2017-S2681 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the "Nurse of Tomorrow Act of 2017" to provide for grants from the state commissioner of education to public and not-for-profit hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, schools and other entities for nurse recruitment, education and retention costs and activities as described herein.

2017-S2681 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S2681

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
enacting the "Nurse of Tomorrow Act of 2017" 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 OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

To create a Nurse of Tomorrow program, modeled after the New York
State Teacher of Tomorrow program enacted last year, designed to help
alleviate 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 SPECIFIC 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 commissioner. 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
con tracts with associate degree-granting schools of nursing,
including but not limited to single-purpose degree granting
institutions 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 hospitals, more than 20% of
the direct care RN workforce is between ages 50 and 59. These data
raise the concern that a large number o f 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.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2015-2016: S.1407A - Amend and Recommit to Education
2013-2014: S.2640A - Referred to Education
2011-2012: S.1145A - Referred to Education
2009-2010: S.2542A/A.3575A - Referred to Education
2008-2009: S.1983/A.3993
2006-2007: S.1181/A.4050
2001-2002: A.7730

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2017-S2681 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2681
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 17, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. PARKER, BRESLIN, DIAZ, MONTGOMERY, PERKINS -- read
   twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
   Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Nurse of
   Tomorrow Act of 2017" 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 2017".
   § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3614 to read
 as follows:
   § 3614. 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;
   (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;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06270-01-7

 S. 2681                             2
 
   (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.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Senate Bill S2681

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Kevin S. Parker