Report Title:

Nursing Scholarships; University of Hawaii

Description:

Establishes a University of Hawaii nursing scholarship program.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

749

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to nursing scholarships.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a national and statewide shortage of registered nurses available to provide patient care in hospitals and in the community. In an effort to attract more students into the nursing profession, a scholarship program to increase enrollment in the bachelor of science in nursing programs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Hawaii at Hilo should be established. The nursing programs are directly responsible for preparing a significant portion of the registered professional nurses required by Hawaii hospitals and community-based health services. Health care is the second largest industry in the State. To ensure access to quality health services in Hawaii, an adequate supply of registered nurses is necessary.

The average age of nurses in Hawaii is forty-seven. Registered nurses less than thirty years of age account for less than ten per cent of all employed nurses. Unless young people enter the nursing field, the projected shortage of registered nurses will intensify over the next ten years.

The purpose of this Act is to provide an incentive for Hawaii students to pursue higher education and training in the nursing profession. Further, this Act is intended to create a sustained group of well-trained nurses that will improve health care throughout the State.

SECTION 2. Chapter 304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§304- Nursing scholarship program; establishment; administration. (a) There is established a nursing scholarship program to be administered by the schools of nursing at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and University of Hawaii at Hilo. The scholarship program shall be available to students enrolled at either campus in the bachelor of science in nursing program and who maintain a "B" or 3.0 grade point average or better.

(b) Scholarship funds may be used for tuition and fees and other costs deemed appropriate by the administration, including but not limited to, transportation, childcare, or clinical subsidies related to the student's academic work. Scholarships received by a student from the program shall not be considered taxable income under chapter 235.

(c) Upon matriculation from the nursing program, scholarship recipients shall work a minimum of twenty hours per week as a licensed registered nurse in Hawaii for a three-year period. If a scholarship recipient fails to meet the criteria set forth in this subsection, all scholarship funds received by the recipient shall be reimbursed to the respective University of Hawaii nursing school from which the degree was received.

(d) If a student terminates enrollment in a University of Hawaii nursing program during the academic year or prior to completion of the approved course of study, the student shall return all unused scholarship funds to the respective nursing program in which enrolled.

(e) All funds returned from students who terminate enrollment in a University of Hawaii nursing program or from graduates who fail to meet the requirements of subsection (c) shall be returned to the respective nursing program and shall be used to support additional scholarships provided under this section."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, for the University of Hawaii nursing scholarship program. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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