HOUSE BILL 1067

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Richard D. Vigil

AN ACT

RELATING TO NURSING; PROVIDING FOR A TASK FORCE TO CREATE AN ON-LINE NURSING CURRICULUM FOR MILITARY HOSPITAL CORPS MEMBERS AND MEDICS TO ALLEVIATE THE STATE AND NATIONAL NURSING SHORTAGE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--TASK FORCE CREATED.--The board of nursing shall appoint a task force to study, develop and implement a curriculum that allows military hospital corps members and medics to earn a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse diploma. The board of nursing shall convene the task force, which shall include representatives from the board of nursing, the New Mexico nurses association, the New Mexico center for nursing excellence, nursing faculty from post-secondary educational institutions, student nurses and military corpsmen and medics.

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the board of nursing for expenditure in fiscal year 2008 to convene a task force to study the potential benefits of using New Mexico's military hospital corps members and medics to alleviate the state and national nursing shortage and to conduct an in-depth comparison of military and civilian curricula, training and job descriptions for nursing services and devise an on-line curriculum for nursing licensure that allows military hospital corps members and medics to earn either a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse diploma and sit for the corresponding civilian licensure examination. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall revert to the general fund.

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