bill requiring special approval for private nursing programs

The text as introduced · 524 words

89R13934 MM-F

By: Kolkhorst
S.B. No. 2054

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authorization for and approval of certain nursing

programs offered by private postsecondary educational institutions

or for-profit entities.

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

SECTION 1. Section 61.302, Education Code, is amended by

adding Subdivisions (12) and (13) to read as follows:

(12) "Professional degree" includes a Doctor of

Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), Doctor of Dental

Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Juris

Doctor (J.D.), and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.).

(13) “Nursing program” means a program preparing a

student for licensure as a licensed vocational nurse or a program

leading to an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), a Bachelor of

Science in Nursing (BSN), a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or a

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

SECTION 2. Section 61.303, Education Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (c-1) and adding Subsection (c-2) to read as

follows:

(c-1) The board may not approve the issuance of a

certificate of authorization for an exempt institution to grant a

professional degree or to represent that credits earned in this

state are applicable toward a professional degree except to the

extent allowed for an authorized institution operating under a

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). [ In this

subsection, "professional degree" includes Doctor of Medicine

(M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), Doctor of Dental Surgery

(D.D.S.), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Juris Doctor

(J.D.), and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.). ]

(c-2) The board may not approve the issuance of a

certificate of authorization for an exempt institution to offer a

nursing program or grant a nursing degree or to represent that

credits earned in a nursing program in this state are applicable

toward a nursing degree except to the extent:

(1) allowed for an authorized institution operating

under a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA); or

(2) determined necessary by the board.

SECTION 3. Section 61.306(c-1), Education Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(c-1) The board may issue a certificate of authority for a

private postsecondary educational institution to grant a

professional degree , to offer a nursing program or grant a nursing

degree, or to represent that credits earned in this state are

applicable toward a professional or nursing degree only if the

board determines that:

(1) the capacity and ability of similar [ professional

degree ] programs at institutions of higher education and private or

independent institutions of higher education are insufficient to

meet the state's current market needs;

(2) the institution seeking the certificate of

authority:

(A) has the necessary faculty and other resources

to ensure student success; and

(B) is subject to and agrees to meet the same

standards for approval and all academic criteria applicable to

similar [ professional degree ] programs offered by institutions of

higher education and private or independent institutions of higher

education; and

(3) sufficient placements are available to students

for required field-based experience, such as clinicals or

clerkships, for the proposed program or [ professional ] degree.

SECTION 4. Section 61.306(d), Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.