HF 2379 (LSB 5484YH (3) 90)

HOUSE FILE 2379

BY  CROKEN, BAGNIEWSKI, LEVIN, ABDUL-SAMAD, WILBURN, BROWN-POWERS, KRESSIG, JACOBY, MADISON, CAHILL, and GJERDE

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a nursing education grant program and fund to be administered by the college student aid commission and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  256.231  Nursing education grant program —— fund.
   1.  A nursing education grant program is established for the purpose of providing grants to accredited private nonprofit colleges and universities in this state to fund clinical education for students in nursing education programs. Subject to an appropriation of moneys for purposes of this section, the college student aid commission shall administer the program.
   2.  The commission shall distribute moneys contained in the nursing education grant fund created in subsection 3 as grants to accredited private nonprofit colleges and universities in this state for the establishment, expansion, or enhancement of clinical education for students in nursing education programs. Permitted uses of grant funds received through the program shall include but are not limited to funding the cost of personnel and equipment necessary to establish, expand, or enhance such clinical education. The commission shall develop a grant application; selection, evaluation, and award amount criteria; and applicable procedures and timelines for the program.
   3.  A nursing education grant fund is established in the state treasury under the control of the commission. Moneys credited to the fund are appropriated to the commission for purposes of distributing grants under this section. The commission may accept gifts, grants, bequests, and other private contributions, as well as state or federal moneys, for deposit in the fund. Moneys available in the fund for a fiscal year shall be distributed as grants pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated for subsequent fiscal years.
   4.  The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this section.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill establishes a nursing education grant program for the purpose of providing grants to accredited private nonprofit colleges and universities in Iowa to fund clinical education for students in nursing education programs. Subject to an appropriation of moneys for this purpose, the college student aid commission shall administer the program.
   The bill establishes a nursing education grant fund in the state treasury under the control of the commission. Moneys credited to the fund are appropriated to the commission for purposes of distributing grants as provided in the bill.
   The bill directs the commission to distribute moneys contained in the fund as grants to accredited private nonprofit colleges and universities in Iowa for the establishment, expansion, or enhancement of clinical education for students in nursing education programs. Permitted uses of grant funds received through the program shall include but are not limited to funding the cost of personnel and equipment necessary to establish, expand, or enhance such clinical education. The bill directs the commission to develop a grant application; selection, evaluation, and award amount criteria; and applicable procedures and timelines for the program.