SENATE BILL 341

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

AN ACT

RELATING TO NURSING EDUCATION; ALLOWING ANY REGISTERED NURSE WHO IS OR WILL BE A NURSE EDUCATOR TO USE THE NURSE EDUCATORS FUND TO OBTAIN A HIGHER DEGREE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 21-1-27.7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2005, Chapter 136, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "21-1-27.7. FUND CREATED.--

          A. There is created in the [commission on higher education] state treasury the "nurse educators fund". The state treasurer shall deposit in the fund all amounts appropriated or credited to the fund. The fund shall be administered by the [commission on] higher education department, which shall charge not more than a five percent administrative fee. Earnings from investment of the fund shall accrue to the credit of the fund. Any balance in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the fund for appropriation by the legislature [as provided in this section].

          B. The purpose of the fund is to [enhance the ability of college- and university-employed nursing educators to obtain] enable the attainment of bachelor of science, master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees in nursing programs by nursing educators employed by a public post-secondary educational institution and registered nurses seeking employment as nursing educators in a public post-secondary educational institution.

          C. The [commission on] higher education department shall develop rules for continuing employment or pay-back provisions for current and future nursing educators who use the fund."

- 2 -