North Carolina SB 297: Nursing Fellows and Curric. Support Funds/WSSU.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 297

Short Title: Nursing Fellows & Curric. Support Funds/WSSU. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Lowe, Blue, and Adcock (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 18, 2025
*S297-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NURSING FELLOWS PROGRAM AT WINSTON-SALEM 2
STATE UNIVERSITY AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR CURRICULUM 3
SUPPORT FOR NURSING STUDENTS AT WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
6
PART I. NURSING FELLOWS PROGRAM AT WINSTON-SALEM STATE 7
UNIVERSITY 8
SECTION 1.(a) Article 23 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by 9
adding the following new Part to read: 10
"Part 3A. Nursing Fellows Program. 11
"§ 116-209.64. Definitions. 12
The following definitions apply in this Part: 13
(1) Academic term. – A semester or summer session. 14
(2) Authority. – The State Education Assistance Authority. 15
(3) Dean. – The Dean of the School of Health Sciences at WSSU. 16
(4) Eligible nurse. – A nurse who meets all of the following criteria: 17
a. Received a forgivable loan. 18
b. Graduated within 10 years from at least one of the following at WSSU, 19
excluding any authorized deferment for extenuating circumstances: 20
1. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. 21
2. A Master of Science in Nursing Education program. 22
c. Is licensed as a registered nurse in this State. 23
(5) Forgivable loan. – A forgivable loan made under the Program. 24
(6) Program. – The Nursing Fellows Program. 25
(7) Qualifying nurse. – An eligible nurse who meets all of the following criteria: 26
a. Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from WSSU. 27
b. Is employed as a nurse in this State. 28
(8) Qualifying nurse instructor. – An eligible nurse who meets all of the following 29
criteria: 30
a. Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from WSSU and a 31
Master of Science degree in Nursing Education from WSSU. 32
b. Is employed as an instructor in a qualifying nursing program. 33
(9) Qualifying nursing program. – A nursing program at one of the following that 34
prepares students to earn a degree in nursing and become a licensed practical 35
nurse as defined in Article 9A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes: 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 297-First Edition
a. A community college. 1
b. A university or private postsecondary institution. 2
(10) Trust Fund. – The Nursing Fellows Program Trust Fund. 3
(11) University or private postsecondary institution. – Either of the following: 4
a. A postsecondary constituent institution of The University of North 5
Carolina as defined in G.S. 116-2(4). 6
b. An eligible private postsecondary educational institution as defined in 7
G.S. 116-280(3). 8
(12) WSSU. – Winston-Salem State University. 9
"§ 116-209.65. North Carolina Nursing Fellows Program established; administration. 10
(a) Program. – There is established the Nursing Fellows Program. The purpose of the 11
Program is to recruit, prepare, and support eligible nursing students at WSSU for preparation as 12
highly effective nurses and instructors in qualifying nursing programs. The Program shall be used 13
to provide forgivable loans to nursing students who are (i) enrolled in degree programs at WSSU 14
to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a Master of Science in Nursing Education and (ii) 15
interested in preparing to become nurses in the State or instructors in qualifying nursing 16
programs. 17
(b) Program Administration; Dean. – The Authority shall administer the Program in 18
cooperation with the Dean. The Dean shall determine forgivable loan recipient selection criteria 19
and selection procedures and shall select the recipients to receive forgivable loans under the 20
Program in accordance with the requirements of this Part. The Dean shall appoint any needed 21
staff of the Program and shall be responsible for recruitment and coordination of the Program, 22
including proactive, aggressive, and strategic recruitment of potential recipients. Recruitment 23
activities shall include (i) targeting regions of the State with the greatest need for nurses and 24
nursing instructors in qualifying nursing programs, (ii) actively engaging with registered nurses, 25
business leaders, experts in human resources, elected officials, and other community leaders 26
throughout the State, and (iii) attracting candidates to the Program. WSSU shall provide office 27
space and clerical support staff, as necessary, to the Dean for the Program. 28
(c) Trust Fund. – There is established the Nursing Fellows Program Trust Fund to be 29
administered by the Authority, in conjunction with the Dean. All funds (i) appropriated to, or 30
otherwise received by, the Program for forgivable loans and other Program purposes, (ii) received 31
as repayment of forgivable loans, and (iii) earned as interest on these funds shall be placed in the 32
Trust Fund. The purpose