72nd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2003 Regular Session
NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
{ + braces and plus signs + } .
LC 3487
A-Engrossed
House Bill 3603
Ordered by the House April 18
Including House Amendments dated April 18
Sponsored by Representative MONNES ANDERSON, Senator NELSON
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
Directs Oregon Health and Science University to distribute
grants to post-secondary institutions to expand capacity of
nursing education programs. Establishes Oregon Nursing Shortage
Coalition Committee to adopt criteria for awarding grants and to
select grant recipients. Specifies uses of grant funds.
Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Oregon Department of
Administrative Services for Oregon Health and Science University
for grants.
Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2003.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to nursing; 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 appropriated from the General Fund 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 a separate account. The total amount of grants
distributed under this section may not exceed the amount of
moneys available for distribution in the separate account. + }
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) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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.
(6) A majority of the members of the committee constitutes a
quorum for the transaction of business.
(7) 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.
(8) 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. { + In addition to and not in lieu of any other
appropriation, there is appropriated to the Oregon Department of
Administrative Services, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2003,
out of the General Fund, the amount of $1 for Oregon Health and
Science University for the purpose of distributing grants for
nursing education programs under sections 2 to 6 of this 2003
Act. + }
SECTION 8. { + Allocations of moneys appropriated by section 7
of this 2003 Act shall be made in an amount equal to one-eighth
of the authorized appropriation on the first day of each quarter
of the biennium beginning July 1, 2003. + }
SECTION 9. { + 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. + }
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