GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1307*

Short Title:  Nurse Scholars Changes/Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Ward; and Gunter.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 25, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ENHANCE THE NURSING SCHOLARS PROGRAM AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 90-171.61(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The Nursing Scholars Program shall be used to provide the following:
(1)	A four-year scholarship loan in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per year, per recipient, to North Carolina high school seniors or other persons interested in preparing to become a registered nurse through a baccalaureate degree program.
(2)	A two-year scholarship loan in the amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000) per year, per recipient, to persons interested in preparing to be a registered nurse through an associate degree nursing program or a diploma nursing program.
(3)	A two-year scholarship loan in the amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000) per year, per recipient, for two years of baccalaureate nursing study for college juniors or community college graduates interested in preparing to be a registered nurse.
(4)	A two-year scholarship loan of three thousand dollars ($3,000) per year, per recipient, for two years of baccalaureate study in nursing for registered nurses who do not hold a baccalaureate degree in nursing.
(5)	A two-year scholarship loan of six thousand dollars ($6,000) per year, per recipient, for two years of study leading to a master of science in nursing degree for people already holding a baccalaureate degree in nursing.
In addition to the scholarship loans awarded pursuant to subdivisions (1)	through (5) of this subsection, the Commission may award pro rata scholarship loans to recipients enrolled at least half-time in study leading to a master of science in nursing degree who already hold a baccalaureate degree in  nursing.  In awarding all scholarship loans, the Commission shall give priority to full-time students over part-time students.  The State Education Assistance Authority shall adopt specific rules to regulate scholarship loans to part-time master of science in nursing students.
Within current funds available or with any additional funds provided by the General Assembly for this purpose, the Commission may set aside slots for scholarship loans prescribed by subdivisions (1)	and (2) of this subsection to enable licensed practical nurses to become registered nurses.  The State Education Assistance Authority shall adopt specific rules to regulate these scholarship loans."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 90-171.62(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The State Education Assistance Authority shall forgive the loan if, within seven years after graduation from a nursing education program, the recipient practices nursing in North Carolina for one year for every year a scholarship loan was provided.  If the recipient repays the scholarship loan by cash payments, all indebtedness shall be repaid within ten years.  The Authority may provide for accelerated repayment and for less than full-time employment options to encourage the practice of nursing in either geographic or nursing specialty shortage areas.  The Authority shall adopt specific rules to designate these geographic areas and these nursing specialty shortage areas, upon recommendations of the North Carolina Center for Nursing.  The North Carolina Center for Nursing shall base its recommendations on objective information provided by interested groups or agencies and upon objective information collected by the Center. The Authority may forgive the scholarship loan if it determines that it is impossible for the recipient to practice nursing in North Carolina for a sufficient time to repay the loan because of the death or permanent disability of the recipient within ten years following graduation or termination of enrollment in a nursing education program."
Sec. 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina the sum of twenty-four thousand dollars ($24,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year to fund a secretary position to administer the selection and origination functions for the Nursing Scholars Program and the Nurse Education Scholarship Loan Program.
Sec. 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.