S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2644
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 19, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Nurse of
   Tomorrow Act of 2021" 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 2021".
   § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3615 to read
 as follows:
   §  3615.  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.
                                                            LBD06780-01-1

              

 A. 2644                             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.