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 2287
Senate Bill 800
Sponsored by Senator NELSON, Representative MONNES ANDERSON;
Senators BROWN, CARTER, CLARNO, DEVLIN, FERRIOLI, FISHER,
HARPER, METSGER, MINNIS, MORRISETTE, MORSE, Representatives
BATES, DALTO, GREENLICK, HANSEN, JENSON, JOHNSON, KNOPP,
MACPHERSON, PATRIDGE, VERGER
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 as
introduced.
Directs Oregon Health and Science University to award grants to
post-secondary institutions to expand capacity of nursing
education programs. Establishes Oregon Nursing Shortage Coalition
Committee to adopt criteria for awarding grants. 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 education programs; appropriating money; and
declaring an emergency.
Whereas the State Workforce Investment Board has found that
there is an acute shortage of registered nurses in Oregon and has
established the goal of doubling enrollment in nursing education
programs by 2004; and
Whereas the Interim Task Force on Health Care Personnel found
that the current supply of health care professional graduates
falls short of the demand created by openings in critical
shortage fields such as nursing; and
Whereas Oregon faces profound nursing shortages that jeopardize
patient care and health care delivery; and
Whereas the Oregon Nursing Leadership Council estimates that
the state needs to double the annual number of nursing graduates
by 2004 in order to merely maintain the current number of
licensed registered nurses; and
Whereas this shortage directly affects the quality of all
Oregonians' health care and their access to that care; and
Whereas this shortage creates significant strains on our health
care system at a time when a disproportionate share of Oregonians
are at an age that requires more health care services; and
Whereas one reason for this shortage is that the nursing
education system in the State of 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 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 the Oregon Nursing Leadership Council has identified
the issue of nursing education as a priority and has begun
efforts to increase collaboration between public and private
partners; and
Whereas in order to increase the number of nurses in Oregon it
is necessary to increase the number of nurse educators; and
Whereas Oregon has a nationally acclaimed nursing education
system, and the state should assure that all of Oregon's public
education institutions have adequate financial resources to
expand the number of nurses in the workforce in a manner that is
affordable to students and offers additional professional
opportunities; and
Whereas Oregon should take this opportunity to invest in
additional nurses and nurse educators through a program that
allows nursing students to remain in their communities to help
stimulate the local economies; and
Whereas additional commitment to the nursing profession will
fuel additional economic growth at a time when the rest of the
nation is failing to address the nursing shortage; now,
therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + Sections 2 to 5 of this 2003 Act are added to
and made a part of ORS chapter 353. + }
SECTION 2. { + (1) As used in this section, '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 the Oregon Health and Science
University; or
(d) An Oregon-based, generally accredited, not-for-profit
institution of higher education.
(2) The Oregon Health and Science University shall award grants
to post-secondary education institutions to support nursing
education programs. Grants awarded under this section shall be in
amounts as determined by the university and shall be based on
criteria adopted under section 5 of this 2003 Act by the Oregon
Nursing Shortage Coalition Committee created under section 3 of
this 2003 Act.
(3) Grants awarded under this section to a community college or
state institution of higher education may be based on an
intergovernmental agreement entered into by the university and
the college or institution.
(4) A post-secondary education institution awarded a grant
under this section may use the grant 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) Create a statewide clinical database to coordinate student
clinical experiences; and
(g) Expand the capacity of nursing education programs to train
new nurses across the state.
(5) The university may not use more than five percent of the
amount appropriated from the General Fund in any biennium for
administrative expenses incurred through administering the grant
program under this section or providing staff support under
section 3 of this 2003 Act.
(6) The 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 this
section or section 5 of this 2003 Act. The university shall use
funds and assistance received under this subsection for awarding
grants under this section or for administering this section or
sections 3 and 5 of this 2003 Act. + }
SECTION 3. { + (1) There is created the Oregon Nursing
Shortage Coalition Committee.
(2) The committee consists of 15 members, as follows:
(a) Three members who represent the Oregon State Board of
Nursing appointed by the board.
(b) Three members appointed by the Oregon State Board of
Nursing. In making appointments under this paragraph, the board
shall consider individuals who are representative of and
nominated by the Northwest Organization of Nurse Executives.
(c) Three members appointed by the Oregon State Board of
Nursing. In making appointments under this paragraph, the board
shall consider individuals who are representative of and
nominated 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.
(e) Three members appointed by the Commissioner for Community
College Services. In making appointments under this paragraph,
the commissioner shall consider individuals who are
representative of and nominated by the Oregon Community College
Association.
(f) Two members who represent the 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
the Oregon Health and Science University for that purpose.
(8) The Oregon Health and Science University shall provide
staff support to the committee. + }
SECTION 4. { + Notwithstanding the term of office specified by
section 3 of this 2003 Act, of the members first appointed to the
Oregon Nursing Shortage Coalition Committee under section 3 of
this 2003 Act:
(1) By the Oregon State Board of Nursing:
(a) Three shall serve for terms ending June 30, 2005.
(b) Three shall serve for terms ending June 30, 2006.
(c) Four 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, 2006.
(c) One shall serve for a term ending June 30, 2007.
(3) By the Oregon Health and Science University:
(a) One shall serve for a term ending June 30, 2005.
(b) One shall serve for a term ending June 30, 2007. + }
SECTION 5. { + (1) The purpose of the Oregon Nursing Shortage
Coalition Committee is to adopt criteria for awarding grants to
post-secondary education institutions under section 2 of this
2003 Act. The goal of the coalition in adopting criteria shall be
to increase the capacity of nursing education programs statewide.
(2) 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 awarded 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. + }
SECTION 6. { + 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 the Oregon Health
and Science University for the purpose of awarding grants under
section 2 of this 2003 Act. + }
SECTION 7. { + Allocations of funding authorized by section 6
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 8. { + 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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