83R2716 KSD-D
 
  By: Guillen H.B. No. 2099
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to improving access to nursing education programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 51.762, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (g-1) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The board, with the assistance of an advisory committee
  composed of representatives of general academic teaching
  institutions, junior college districts, public state colleges, and
  public technical institutes, and with the consultation of all
  institutions of higher education that admit freshman-level
  students:
               (1)  shall adopt by rule:
                     (A)  a common admission application form for use
  by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to a general
  academic teaching institution; [and]
                     (B)  an electronic common admission application
  form for use by a person seeking admission as a freshman student to
  an institution of higher education that admits freshman-level
  students, other than a general academic teaching institution; and
                     (C)  an electronic common admission application
  form for use by a person seeking admission to a nursing education
  program at an institution of higher education; and
               (2)  may adopt by rule a printed format common
  admission application form for use by a person seeking admission as
  a freshman student to an institution of higher education that
  admits freshman-level students, other than a general academic
  teaching institution.
         (g-1)  The electronic common admission application form for
  use by a person seeking admission to a nursing education program at
  an institution of higher education must include a link to
  information regarding any available scholarship opportunities for
  nursing education degree students at institutions of higher
  education.
         SECTION 2.  Section 61.026, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 61.026.  COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES. (a) The
  chairman may appoint committees from the board's membership as the
  chairman [he] or the board may find necessary from time to time.
  The board may appoint advisory committees from outside its
  membership as it may deem necessary.
         (b)  If the board directs an advisory committee to assist the
  board in exercising its authority under Section 61.051(j) regarding
  an off-campus course in nursing education, including clinical
  coursework, the board shall require the advisory committee to
  include or consult with one or more career schools or colleges that
  are authorized to offer degrees in this state and are located in the
  area where the course is to be offered.  In this subsection, "career
  school or college" has the meaning assigned by Section 132.001.
         SECTION 3.  Section 61.5391(b), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Money in the account may not be appropriated for any
  purpose except:
               (1)  to provide loan repayment assistance to eligible
  physicians under this subchapter; or
               (2)  to provide loan repayment assistance under
  Subchapter L to eligible faculty of professional nursing programs
  for graduate-level nursing education loans.
         SECTION 4.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  shall adopt an electronic common admission application form for
  nursing education programs as required by Section 51.762, Education
  Code, as amended by this Act, not later than September 1, 2014. An
  institution of higher education must accept applications for
  nursing education programs using the electronic common admission
  application form beginning with applicants for admission for the
  2015-2016 academic year.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.