Assembly Bill No. 378–Assemblymen Freeman, Leslie, de Braga, Cegavske, Anderson, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Buckley, Chowning, Dini, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Hettrick, Humke, Manendo, Marvel, Mortenson, Parks, Perkins, Smith and Tiffany

 

Joint Sponsors: Senators Rawson, Coffin and Mathews

 

CHAPTER..........

 

AN ACT relating to the University and Community College System of Nevada; making an appropriation to support the program to provide loans to nursing students; requiring the development of a plan to increase the capacity of the programs of nursing within the system; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

   Section 1. 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the interest earned

 on the trust fund for public health created pursuant to NRS 439.605, as

 determined on July 1, 2001, to the Interim Finance Committee an amount

 equal to 25 percent of the available interest that has been earned on the

 trust fund, as determined on July 1, 2001, or the sum of $250,000,

 whichever is less. If the Interim Finance Committee approves the policy

 established by the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada pursuant

 to subsection 2, the Interim Finance Committee shall distribute the money

 appropriated by this subsection to the Board of Regents for the financial

 support of the program to provide loans to nursing students pursuant to

 NRS 396.890 to 396.898, inclusive.

   2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of NRS 396.890 to 396.898,

 inclusive, to the contrary, the Board of Regents shall establish a policy for

 administration of the loans pursuant to this section. The policy must

 include, without limitation:

   (a) The criteria for eligibility for receipt of a loan pursuant to this

 section;

   (b) The manner by which eligible students may apply for a loan;

   (c) The procedures for monitoring the repayment of a loan; and

   (d) A requirement that all payments of principal and interest on all loans

 made pursuant to this section must be deposited in the trust fund for public

 health created pursuant to NRS 439.605.

   3.  The Board of Regents shall submit the policy established pursuant

 to subsection 2 to the Interim Finance Committee for approval. If the

 Interim Finance Committee approves the policy, the Interim Finance

 Committee shall distribute the money appropriated by subsection 1 to the

 Board of Regents.

   4.  If the money appropriated by subsection 1 is distributed to the

 Board of Regents, the Board of Regents shall use the money to provide

 loans for fees, books and living expenses pursuant to the:

   (a) Policy approved by the Interim Finance Committee pursuant to

 subsection 3; and

   (b) Provisions of NRS 396.890 to 396.898, inclusive, to the extent that

 those provisions do not conflict with the policy approved by the Interim

 Finance Committee,

to students who are enrolled in nursing programs of the University and

Community College System of Nevada.

   5.  Any remaining balance of the sum appropriated by subsection 1

 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 2003, and reverts to

 the trust fund for public health as soon as all payments of money

 committed have been made.

   Sec. 2. On or before August 15, 2002, the Board of Regents of the

 University of Nevada shall develop a plan toward the goal of doubling the

 capacity of the programs of nursing of the University and Community

 College System to enroll students in programs of nursing from its capacity

 in school year 2000-2001. The Board of Regents shall include that plan as

 a separately identifiable component of its proposed biennial budget that is

 submitted pursuant to NRS 353.210 and set forth estimates of expenditures

 that would be necessary to carry out the plan.

   Sec. 3. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.

 

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