DOA:......Kirschbaum, BB0416 - Expanding the nurse educator program
For 2025-2027 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
EDUCATION
Higher education
Expansion of the nurse educator financial assistance program to allied health, behavioral health, and dentistry professions
Under current law, HEAB administers a nurse educator program that provides 1) fellowships to students who enroll in certain postgraduate nursing degree programs at institutions of higher education; 2) postdoctoral fellowships to recruit faculty for nursing programs at institutions of higher education; and 3) educational loan repayment assistance to recruit and retain faculty for nursing programs in institutions of higher education. Individuals who receive financial assistance under the program must make a commitment to teach for at least three consecutive years in a nursing program at an institution of higher education.
This bill expands the program to provide the same financial assistance and teaching commitment requirement to certain individuals in allied health, behavioral health, and dentistry professions, as defined in the bill.
For further information see the state 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Section 1. 39.395 (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
39.395 (title) Financial assistance for educators in nursing, allied health, behavioral health, and dentistry.
Section 2. 39.395 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 39.395 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:
39.395 (1) (intro.) In this section, “institution:
(e) “Institution of higher education” means an institution or college campus within the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college within the technical college system, or a private, nonprofit institution of higher education located in this state.
Section 3. 39.395 (1) (a) to (e) of the statutes are created to read:
39.395 (1) (a) “Allied health professional” has the meaning given in s. 146.616 (1) (ag).
(b) “Behavioral health provider” has the meaning given in s. 257.01 (1).
(c) “Dental assistant” means an individual who holds a certified dental assistant credential issued by a national credentialing organization.
(d) “Dentistry professional” means a dental assistant, a dental hygienist licensed under s. 447.04 (2), a dental therapist licensed under s. 447.04 (1m), or a dentist as defined in s. 447.01 (7).
(e) “Faculty” means individuals that are employed as faculty in either a full-time or a part-time capacity at an institution of higher education.
Section 4. 39.395 (2) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
39.395 (2) (am) Fellowships for students who enroll in an institution of higher education’s masters or doctoral program that trains students for practice as an allied health professional, a behavioral health provider, or a dentistry professional.
Section 5. 39.395 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
39.395 (2) (bm) Postdoctoral fellowships to recruit institution of higher education faculty for programs that train students to be allied health professionals, behavioral health providers, or dentistry professionals.
Section 6. 39.395 (2) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
39.395 (2) (cm) Educational loan repayment assistance to recruit and retain institution of higher education faculty for programs that train students to be allied health professionals, behavioral health providers, or dentistry professionals.
Section 7. 39.395 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
39.395 (3) The program established under sub. (2) shall require individuals who receive fellowships under sub. (2) (a) or, (am), (b), or (bm) or assistance under sub. (2) (c) or (cm) to make a commitment to teach for at least 3 consecutive years in a nursing program at an institution of higher education or in an institution of higher education’s program that trains students to be allied health professionals, behavioral health providers, or dentistry professionals.
(end)
