Sec. 61.9754. PRIORITY FOR FUNDING. In awarding a grant under this subchapter, the board shall give priority to a hospital-based nursing education partnership that submits a proposal that:

(1) provides for collaborative educational models between one or more participating hospitals and one or more participating nursing education programs that have signed a memorandum of understanding or other written agreement under which the participants agree to comply with standards established by the board, including any standards the board may establish that:

(A) provide for program management that offers a centralized decision-making process allowing for inclusion of each entity participating in the partnership;

(B) provide for access to clinical training positions for students in nursing education programs that are not participating in the partnership; and

(C) specify the details of any requirement relating to a student in a nursing education program participating in the partnership being employed after graduation in a hospital participating in the partnership, including any details relating to the employment of students who do not complete the program, are not offered a nursing position at the hospital, or choose to pursue other employment;

(2) includes a demonstrable education model to:

(A) increase the number of students enrolled in, the number of students graduating from, and the number of nursing faculty employed by each nursing education program participating in the partnership; and

(B) improve student retention in each nursing education program;

(3) indicates the availability of money to match all or a portion of the grant money, including matching money from a hospital, private or nonprofit entity, or institution of higher education;

(4) provides for completion of a class admitted under this project to be funded by all members of the partnership if the funded project ends before the class graduation date;

(5) can be replicated by other hospital-based nursing education partnerships or nursing education programs; and

(6) includes plans for sustainability of the partnership beyond the grant period.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 889 (H.B. 2426), Sec. 73, eff. September 1, 2007.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 936 (H.B. 3443), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007.