Makes an appropriation for a nurse apprentice program. (BDR S-1054)

S.B. 271

- *SB271*

SENATE BILL NO. 271–SENATOR TITUS

MARCH 4, 2025
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JOINT SPONSOR: ASSEMBLYMEMBER JAUREGUI
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Referred to Committee on Finance

SUMMARY—Makes an appropriation for a nurse apprentice
program. (BDR S-1054)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: Contains Appropriation not included
in Executive Budget.

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

AN ACT making an appropriation to the Division of Public and
Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and
Human Services for carrying out a nurse apprentice
program; 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 State 1
General Fund to the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the 2
Department of Health and Human Services the sum of $ 12,000,000 3
for carrying out a nurse apprentice program. 4
2. Money appropriated by subsection 1 may be: 5
(a) Granted to another entity to carry out the program. 6
(b) Used only for: 7
(1) Reimbursement of a health care entity that is enrolled in 8
the program for: 9
(I) Compensation paid by the health care entity to each 10
nurse apprentice who participates in the program and is employed 11
by the health care entity; 12

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- *SB271*
(II) The costs of supervising each nur se apprentice who 1
participates in the program and is employed by the health care 2
entity; and 3
(III) Retention bonuses paid by the health care entity to 4
each nurse apprentice who participates in the program and enters 5
into an employment agreement with the health care entity upon 6
graduation and licensure; 7
(2) Travel expenses incurred by a nurse apprentice who 8
participates in the program and resides more than 50 miles from his 9
or her employing health care entity; and 10
(3) Administrative costs to carry out the program, except not 11
more than $500,000 of the money appropriated by subsection 1 may 12
be used for this purpose. 13
3. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by 14
subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 15
2027, by the entity to which the appropriation is made or any entity 16
to which money from the appropriation is granted or otherwise 17
transferred in any manner, and any portion of the appropriated 18
money re maining must not be spent for any purpose after 19
September 17, 2027, by either the entity to which the money was 20
appropriated or the entity to which the money was subsequently 21
granted or transferred, and must be reverted to the State General 22
Fund on or before September 17, 2027. 23
4. As used in this section: 24
(a) “Health care entity” means: 25
(1) A medical facility; 26
(2) A community health clinic; or 27
(3) A health maintenance organization. 28
(b) “Nurse apprentice” means a nursing student who performs 29
tasks that he or she has successfully demonstrated in his or her 30
program of education in accordance with regulations adopted by the 31
State Board of Nursing. 32
(c) “Nursing student” means a person who is: 33
(1) Enrolled in a program of professional nursing or practical 34
nursing at an accredited school of nursing; 35
(2) Taking at least three credits of nursing theory or clinical 36
courses related to nursing in an academic semester; and 37
(3) Continuously progressing toward obtaining a certificate 38
or degree in nursing. 39
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval. 40

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