GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 945

Short Title:  Nursing Scholars Program.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Nesbitt; Bonner and Goodwin.

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Referred to:  Education.

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April 15, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN PART-TIME BACCALAUREATE DEGREE STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR NURSING SCHOLARSHIP LOANS.
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 and to recipients enrolled at least half-time in study leading to a baccalaureate degree in nursing who already are licensed as registered nurses. 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 and part-time baccalaureate degree 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."
Section 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.