requires two-thirds majority vote (§ 1)                                                                                          

                                                       (REPRINTED WITH ADOPTED AMENDMENTS)

 

Senate Bill No. 55–Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

 

Prefiled January 26, 2001

 

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

 

SUMMARY—Makes various changes to provisions regarding Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. (BDR 34‑814)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: No.

 

~

 

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education; requiring the collection of an application fee to receive financial support from the commission; revising the conditions under which such support may be granted; eliminating the limitation placed on the amount of such support; authorizing money in the commission’s fund for student loans to be used for administrative expenses; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. Chapter 397 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a

1-2  new section to read as follows:

1-3    1.  The three commissioners from the State of Nevada, acting jointly,

1-4  shall require the submission of an application fee of $50 for the

1-5  consideration of each application from a resident of Nevada to

1-6  participate in the program pursuant to this chapter.

1-7    2.  The money received pursuant to subsection 1 must be deposited in

1-8  the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s fund for

1-9  student loans created pursuant to NRS 397.063.

1-10    Sec. 2.  NRS 397.0617 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-11    397.0617  1.  The provisions of this section apply only to support fees

1-12  received by a student on or after July 1, 1997.

1-13    2.  The three commissioners from the State of Nevada, acting jointly,

1-14  may require a student who is certified to study to practice in a profession

1-15  which could benefit a medically underserved area of this state, as that term

1-16  is defined by the officer of rural health of the University of Nevada School

1-17  of Medicine, to practice in [such] :

1-18    (a) Such an area or [to practice in] an area designated by the Secretary

1-19  of Health and Human Services:

2-1    [(a)] (1) Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 254c, as containing a medically

2-2  underserved population; or

2-3    [(b)] (2) Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 254e, as a health professional shortage

2-4  area[,] ; or

2-5    (b) A facility of the University and Community College System of

2-6  Nevada,

2-7  as a condition to receiving a support fee.

2-8    3.  If a person agrees to practice in a [medically underserved area of]

2-9  location in this state pursuant to :

2-10    (a) Paragraph (a) of subsection 2 for at least 2 years[,] ; or

2-11    (b) Paragraph (b) of subsection 2 for at least 4 years,

2-12  the three commissioners from the State of Nevada, acting jointly, may

2-13  forgive the portion of the support fee designated as the loan of the person.

2-14    4.  If a person returns to this state but does not practice in a [medically

2-15  underserved area of] location in this state pursuant to :

2-16    (a) Paragraph (a) of subsection 2 for at least 2 years[,] ; or

2-17    (b) Paragraph (b) of subsection 2 for at least 4 years,

2-18  the three commissioners from the State of Nevada, acting jointly, [shall]

2-19  may assess a default charge in an amount not less than three times the

2-20  portion of the support fee designated as the loan of the person, plus

2-21  interest.

2-22    5.  As used in this section, a “profession which could benefit a

2-23  medically underserved area of this state” includes, without limitation,

2-24  dentistry, physical therapy, pharmacy and practicing as a physician’s

2-25  assistant.

2-26    Sec. 3.  NRS 397.063 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-27    397.063  1.  All contributions from students must be accounted for in

2-28  the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s fund for student

2-29  loans which is hereby created as a special revenue fund.

2-30    2.  The three commissioners from the State of Nevada, acting jointly,

2-31  shall administer the fund , and the money in the fund must be used solely to

2-32  : [provide:]

2-33    (a) Meet necessary administrative expenses; and

2-34    (b) Provide:

2-35      (1) Loans to; and

2-36    (b)] (2) Contractual arrangements for educational services and facilities

2-37  for,

2-38  residents of Nevada who are certified to attend graduate or professional

2-39  schools in accordance with the provisions of the Western Regional Higher

2-40  Education Compact.

2-41    3.  Loans from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher

2-42  Education’s fund for student loans, before July 1, 1985, and loans made to

2-43  students classified as continuing students before July 1, 1985, must be

2-44  made upon the following terms:

2-45    (a) All student loans must bear interest at 5 percent per annum from the

2-46  date when the student receives the loan.

2-47    (b) Each student receiving a loan must repay the loan with interest

2-48  following the termination of his education or completion of his internship

2-49  in accordance with the following schedule:

3-1       (1) Within 5 years for loans which total less than $10,000.

3-2       (2) Within 8 years for loans which total $10,000 or more but less than

3-3  $20,000.

3-4       (3) Within 10 years for loans which total $20,000 or more.

3-5    (c) No student loan may exceed 50 percent of the student fees for any

3-6  academic year.

3-7    Sec. 4.  NRS 397.064 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-8    397.064  Loans, from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher

3-9  Education’s fund for student loans, to students who enter the program on or

3-10  after July 1, 1985, must be made upon the following terms:

3-11    1.  All loans must bear interest at 8 percent per annum from the first

3-12  day of the academic term for which the student received the loan.

3-13    2.  Except as otherwise provided in NRS 397.0617, each student

3-14  receiving a loan must repay the loan with interest following the termination

3-15  of his education or completion of his internship for which the loan is made.

3-16    3.  The loan must be repaid in monthly installments over the period

3-17  allowed, as set forth in subsection 4, with the first installment due 1 year

3-18  after the date of the termination of his education or the completion of his

3-19  internship for which the loan is made. The amounts of the installments may

3-20  not be less than $50 and may be calculated to allow a smaller payment at

3-21  the beginning of the repayment period, with each succeeding payment

3-22  gradually increasing so that the total amount due will have been paid

3-23  within the period allowed for repayment.

3-24    4.  The three commissioners from the State of Nevada, acting jointly,

3-25  shall, or shall delegate to the director of the Western Interstate Commission

3-26  for Higher Education the power to, schedule the repayment within the

3-27  following periods:

3-28    (a) Five years for loans which total less than $10,000.

3-29    (b) Eight years for loans which total $10,000 or more but less than

3-30  $20,000.

3-31    (c) Ten years for loans which total $20,000 or more.

3-32    5.  [A student loan may not exceed 50 percent of the student fees for

3-33  any academic year.

3-34    6.] A delinquency charge may be assessed on any installment delinquent

3-35  10 days or more in the amount of 8 percent of the installment or $4,

3-36  whichever is greater, but not more than $15.

3-37    [7.] 6.  The reasonable costs of collection and an attorney’s fee may be

3-38  recovered in the event of delinquency.

3-39    Sec. 5.  NRS 397.0605 is hereby repealed.

3-40    Sec. 6.  The repeal of NRS 397.0605 pursuant to section 5 of this act

3-41  does not affect any agreement entered into pursuant to NRS 397.0605

3-42  before July 1, 2001.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4-1    Sec. 7.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.

 

4-2  TEXT OF REPEALED SECTION

 

4-3    NRS 397.0605  Regulations regarding condition of placement of

4-4  student in educational program for physicians’ assistants. The

4-5  provisions of NRS 397.0615, 397.0645 and 397.0653 to the contrary

4-6  notwithstanding, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

4-7  may adopt regulations which require as a condition of placement of a

4-8  student in an educational program for physicians’ assistants and receipt of

4-9  the related financial support that the student submit to the director of the

4-10  Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education:

4-11    1.  A written statement from a licensed provider of health care who

4-12  practices his profession in a rural area of this state that he agrees to employ

4-13  the student for the term necessary to fulfill the requirements of NRS

4-14  397.0645 upon the completion of the student’s education, examination and

4-15  licensure.

4-16    2.  A written statement from the student that in lieu of repayment of all

4-17  state contributions for the stipend he received he will practice his

4-18  profession in a rural area of this state in accordance with the schedule set

4-19  forth in subsection 1 of NRS 397.0645.

 

4-20  H