DOA:......Kirschbaum, BB0035 - Tuition Reimbursement Pilot for Nurse Refresher Courses at a Technical College
For 2025-2027 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
SAFETY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Professional licensure
Nursing refresher course tuition reimbursement program
This bill requires DSPS to establish and implement a program to reimburse individuals for the cost of completing a nursing refresher course offered at a technical college. The reimbursement is available to individuals who are licensed as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, are under 60 years of age, and have not actively practiced nursing in the prior five-year period. The bill requires DSPS to allocate at least $150,000 in each fiscal year for reimbursements under the program.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 440.031 of the statutes is created to read:
440.031 Nursing refresher course tuition reimbursement program. (1) The department shall establish and implement a program to award grants to individuals who satisfy all of the following:
(a) The individual has not, as of the date of application for the grant, reached the age of 60 years.
(b) The individual is licensed under ch. 441 as licensed practical nurse or registered nurse.
(c) The individual has not, as of the date of application for the grant, actively practiced registered nursing or licensed practical nursing in the 5-year period preceding the date of application for a grant.
(d) The individual has, within the one-year period prior to the date of application for the grant, satisfactorily completed a nursing refresher course approved by the department under sub. (3).
(2) (a) Subject to the limitations under this subsection, a grant under this section shall be an amount necessary to reimburse an individual for the tuition cost of the course described in sub. (1) (d).
(b) The department shall, from the appropriation under s. 20.165 (1) (g), allocate at least $150,000 in each fiscal year for grants under this section. If the amount available in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount per individual under sub. (1) (d), the department may prorate the amount of the department’s payments among individuals eligible for grants under this section.
(c) An individual may not receive more than one grant under this section.
(3) The department shall approve nurse refresher courses as eligible for tuition reimbursement under this section. The department may approve only a course offered at a technical college established under s. 38.02.
(end)
