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Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘An Act To Address Maine's Nursing Shortage by Creating an Apprenticeship Pathway for Licensure of Health Care-trained Veterans and Expanding Access to Nursing Education’
Amend the bill in section 1 in §2251-A in subsection 2 in the 2nd line (page 1, line 9 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "state-approved" and inserting the following: 'state-approvedboard-approved nursing education'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §2251-A in subsection 3 in paragraph B in the last line (page 1, line 16 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "and"
Amend the bill in section 1 in §2251-A in subsection 3 in paragraph C in the first line (page 1, line 17 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "duty." and inserting the following: 'duty; and'
Amend the bill in section 1 in §2251-A in subsection 3 by inserting at the end the following:
 
‘D. Completed a board-approved nursing education program for the preparation of applicants who meet the requirements of paragraphs A to C to practice practical nursing.’
Amend the bill in section 1 in §2251-A by inserting at the end the following:
 
‘4.  Rulemaking.    The board shall adopt major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to establish the requirements for approval of a nursing education program pursuant to subsection 3, paragraph D.’
Amend the bill by adding after section 1 the following:
‘Sec. 2. Development of provisional rules. The State Board of Nursing shall provisionally adopt rules for the approval of a program to prepare veterans with health care training and experience for licensure as licensed practical nurses under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, section 2251-A, subsection 4 no later than March 1, 2019. To the extent permitted by Title 5, chapter 375, the board shall invite the participation of stakeholders, including but not limited to representatives of hospitals, nursing homes, nursing education programs, the Department of Labor, Maine Apprenticeship Program and the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management in the rule-making process, including the drafting of proposed rules and changes after the public hearing process.
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE
 
Maine Community College System - Board of Trustees 0556
 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to support the hiring of additional nursing faculty to create a new cohort of nursing students at Central Maine Community College.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$0	$200,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$200,000	

Maine Community College System - Board of Trustees 0556
 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to support the hiring of additional nursing faculty and the acquisition of equipment and instructional space to expand student capacity at Eastern Maine Community College.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$0	$250,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$250,000	

Maine Community College System - Board of Trustees 0556
 
Initiative: Provides one-time funds to support the acquisition of a nursing simulator at Northern Maine Community College.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$0	$200,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$200,000	

Maine Community College System - Board of Trustees 0556
 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to support the hiring of additional nursing faculty and the acquisition of equipment to create a summer cohort of nursing students at Southern Maine Community College.

GENERAL FUND	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$0	$200,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$200,000	

COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE			
DEPARTMENT TOTALS	2017-18	2018-19	
			
GENERAL FUND	$0	$850,000	
			
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS	$0	$850,000	
 
’
 
SUMMARY
The bill authorizes a person with specific military training and experience to take the examination for licensure as a licensed practical nurse. This amendment requires such a person to complete a practical nursing preparation program approved by the State Board of Nursing and designed specifically for applicants with military training and experience prior to taking the licensing examination. The program may include a combination of apprenticeship and traditional educational experiences. The board is directed to adopt provisional, major substantive rules establishing the requirements for approval of the program by March 1, 2019 and is directed to invite the participation of stakeholders in the rule-making process.
The amendment implements a recommendation of the Task Force on Maine’s 21st Century Economy and Workforce by providing $650,000 in ongoing funding to support the hiring of additional nursing faculty and the acquisition of equipment and instructional space to expand nursing classes at Southern Maine Community College, Central Maine Community College and Eastern Maine Community College as well as $200,000 in one-time funding to support the acquisition of a nursing simulator at Northern Maine Community College.
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)