Chapter
697
AN ACT
SB 800
Relating to nursing education programs; appropriating money; and declaring an emergency.
Whereas an acute shortage of registered nurses in Oregon has been identified by the Oregon Nursing Leadership Council, the State Workforce Investment Board and the Legislative Interim Task Force on Health Care Personnel that requires a doubling of enrollment in nursing education by the year 2004; and
Whereas Oregon faces profound nursing shortages that jeopardize patient care and health care delivery; and
Whereas this shortage creates significant strains on our health care system at a time when a disproportionate percentage of Oregonians are at an age that requires more health care services; and
Whereas the Oregon Nursing Leadership Council has identified plans to collaboratively address health care workforce issues; and
Whereas Oregon’s community colleges have joined together to create a Community College Healthcare Action Plan to collaboratively address health care workforce issues and to target licensed practical nurse and registered nurse programs; and
Whereas Oregon Health and Science University School of Nursing has a nationally recognized program of nursing education that has four campuses and several outreach sites across Oregon; and
Whereas in order to increase the number of nurses in Oregon, it is also necessary to increase the number of nurse educators; and
Whereas the nursing education system in Oregon is currently at capacity and needs to be expanded to meet present and future demands on the health care system in the state; and
Whereas the State of Oregon should ensure that all of Oregon’s public and private education institutions have adequate financial resources to expand the number of nurses in the workforce in a manner that is affordable and accessible to students and that offers professional opportunities when appropriate; and
Whereas additional commitment to the nursing profession will fuel additional economic growth; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of
Oregon:
SECTION 1. Sections 2 to 6 of this 2003 Act are added to and made a part of ORS chapter 353.
SECTION 2. As
used in sections 2 to 6 of this 2003 Act:
(1)
“Committee” means the Oregon Nursing Shortage Coalition Committee created in
section 4 of this 2003 Act.
(2)
“Post-secondary education institution” means:
(a)
A state institution under the direction of the State Board of Higher Education;
(b)
A community college operated under ORS chapter 341;
(c)
A school or division of Oregon Health and Science University; or
(d) An Oregon-based, generally accredited, not-for-profit private institution of higher education.
SECTION 3. (1)
Oregon Health and Science University shall distribute grants to post-secondary
education institutions to support nursing education programs based on the
selections of the Oregon Nursing Shortage Coalition Committee and in accordance
with appropriate university policies and procedures. If the university is not
able to distribute a grant to a post-secondary education institution selected
by the committee, the university shall report to the committee the reason for
not distributing the grant.
(2)
Grants distributed under this section to a community college or state
institution of higher education may be based on an intergovernmental agreement
entered into by Oregon Health and Science University and the college or
institution.
(3)
Oregon Health and Science University may not use more than five percent of the
amount received from the Nursing Education Grant Fund established in section 3a
of this 2003 Act for the grant program in any biennium for administrative
expenses incurred in administering sections 2 to 6 of this 2003 Act.
(4)
Oregon Health and Science University may accept contributions of funds and
assistance from the United States Government or its agencies, or from any other
source, public or private, and agree to conditions placed on the funds not
inconsistent with the purposes of sections 2 to 6 of this 2003 Act. The
university shall use funds and assistance received under this subsection for
grants distributed under this section or for administering sections 2 to 6 of
this 2003 Act.
(5) Oregon Health and Science University shall deposit moneys received by the university for purposes of sections 2 to 6 of this 2003 Act in the Nursing Education Grant Fund. The total amount of grants distributed under this section may not exceed the amount of moneys available for distribution in the fund.
SECTION 3a. (1)
The Nursing Education Grant Fund is established separate and distinct from the
General Fund. All moneys received by the Oregon Department of Administrative
Services or Oregon Health and Science University for purposes of sections 2 to
6 of this 2003 Act shall be deposited into the State Treasury and credited to
the Nursing Education Grant Fund.
(2)
Interest earned from the Nursing Education Grant Fund shall be credited to the
fund.
(3) All moneys in the Nursing Education Grant Fund are continuously appropriated to the department for allocation to the university for the purposes of sections 2 to 6 of this 2003 Act.
SECTION 4. (1)
There is created the Oregon Nursing Shortage Coalition Committee.
(2)
The committee consists of 10 members, as follows:
(a)
Two members who represent the Oregon State Board of Nursing appointed by the
board.
(b)
Two members who represent the Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives
appointed by the Oregon State Board of Nursing from a list of persons submitted
to the board by the Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives.
(c)
Two members who represent the Oregon Nurses Association appointed by the Oregon
State Board of Nursing from a list of persons submitted to the board by the
Oregon Nurses Association.
(d)
One member appointed by the Oregon State Board of Nursing who represents
Oregon-based, generally accredited, not-for-profit private institutions of
higher education from a list of persons submitted to the board by the Oregon
Independent Colleges Association.
(e)
Two members appointed by the Commissioner for Community College Services from a
list of persons submitted to the commissioner by the Oregon Community College
Association.
(f)
One member who represents Oregon Health and Science University appointed by the
university.
(3)
When appointing members to the committee, the Oregon State Board of Nursing,
the Commissioner for Community College Services and Oregon Health and Science
University shall ensure that there is at least one member from each of the
following areas of the state:
(a)
Rural western Oregon.
(b)
Coastal Oregon.
(c) Eastern Oregon.
(d)
Urban areas.
(4)
The term of office of each member is four years, but a member serves at the
pleasure of the appointing authority. Before the expiration of the term of a
member, the appointing authority shall appoint a successor whose term begins on
July 1 next following. A member is eligible for reappointment. If there is a
vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appointment to
become immediately effective for the unexpired term.
(5)
The committee shall elect one of its members to serve as chairperson and
another to serve as vice chairperson, for the terms and with the duties and
powers necessary for the performance of the functions of such offices as the
committee determines.
(6)
The committee shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the
chairperson or of a majority of the members of the committee.
(7)
A majority of the members of the committee constitutes a quorum for the
transaction of business.
(8)
Members of the committee are entitled to actual and necessary travel expenses
in the manner and amounts provided for in ORS 292.495. Claims for expenses
incurred in performing functions of the committee shall be paid out of funds
received by Oregon Health and Science University for that purpose.
(9) Oregon Health and Science University shall provide staff support to the committee.
SECTION 5. Notwithstanding
the term of office specified by section 4 of this 2003 Act, of the members
first appointed to the Oregon Nursing Shortage Coalition Committee under
section 4 of this 2003 Act:
(1)
By the Oregon State Board of Nursing:
(a)
Two shall serve for terms ending June 30, 2005.
(b)
Two shall serve for terms ending June 30, 2006.
(c)
Three shall serve for terms ending June 30, 2007.
(2)
By the Commissioner for Community College Services:
(a)
One shall serve for a term ending June 30, 2005.
(b) One shall serve for a term ending June 30, 2007.
SECTION 6. (1)
The Oregon Nursing Shortage Coalition Committee shall:
(a)
Adopt criteria for awarding grants to post-secondary education institutions
under this section;
(b)
Based on the criteria, select post-secondary education institutions to receive
grants to support nursing education programs; and
(c)
Determine the amounts of the grants to be distributed under section 3 of this
2003 Act.
(2)
The goal of the committee in adopting criteria and selecting grant recipients
shall be to increase the capacity of nursing education programs statewide.
(3)
The criteria adopted by the committee shall include, but not be limited to,
consideration for:
(a)
Whether the grant funds will be used to increase the capacity of a nursing
education program;
(b)
Whether the grant funds will be matched with funds from other sources or used
to leverage additional funds from other sources;
(c)
Ensuring that grant funds are awarded for nursing education programs in both
urban areas and rural areas of the state;
(d)
Ensuring that grant funds are used to increase the capacity for all levels of
nursing education; and
(e)
Ensuring that grant funds are used to increase the diversity of people who
enter nursing education programs, including targeting underrepresented groups
of people in the nursing profession.
(4)
The total amount of grants awarded by the committee may not exceed the amount
of moneys available for distribution as grants.
(5)
A post-secondary education institution awarded a grant under this section may
use the grant funds to:
(a)
Develop nursing education program infrastructure;
(b)
Train additional nurse educators;
(c)
Develop regional learning laboratories;
(d)
Provide technical support to nursing education programs;
(e)
Create learning materials that supplement available faculty expertise;
(f)
Coordinate student clinical experiences statewide; and
(g) Expand the capacity of nursing education programs to train new nurses across the state.
SECTION 7. This 2003 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2003 Act takes effect July 1, 2003.
Approved by the Governor August 22, 2003
Filed in the office of Secretary of State August 22, 2003
Effective date August 22, 2003
__________