To administer s. 1009.897, F.S., Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) Fund. The effect of this new rule will be to provide information about the administration ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-10.0351Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) Fund

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To administer s. 1009.897, F.S., Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) Fund. The effect of this new rule will be to provide information about the administration of the fund to Florida College System (FCS) institutions and school district career centers and charter technical centers under ss. 1001.44 and 1002.34, F.S., that offer licensed practical nursing programs.

SUMMARY: Senate Bill 2524 created the PIPELINE Fund, which is intended to combat the growing nursing shortage in the state.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: This proposed rule is not expected to have any adverse impact on economic growth, business competitiveness or any other factors listed in s. 120.541(2)(a), F.S., and will not require legislative ratification. No increase in regulatory costs are anticipated as a result of this rule. This is based upon the nature of the proposed rule.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1009.897(4), F.S

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1009.897, F.S.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: August 17, 2022, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Pensacola State College. Switzer Center for Visual Arts (Bldg. 15), 1000 College Boulevard, Pensacola, FL 32504.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Dr. Carrie Henderson, Executive Vice Chancellor, Division of Florida Colleges, [e-mail], [phone]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-10.0351 Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) Fund.

(1) Purpose. This rule administers the Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE) fund, in accordance with Section 1009.897, F.S.

(2) Definitions. For the purposes of administering the program, the following definitions shall be used. 

(a) “Department” means the Florida Department of Education. 

(b) “Institution” means a school district career center under Section 1001.44, F.S. that offers a licensed practical nurse program, a charter technical career center under Section 1002.34, F.S. that offers a licensed practical nurse program, or a Florida College System institution. 

(c) “Passage rates” means the percent of first-time test takers who take and pass the National Council of State Board of Nursing Licensing Examination (NCLEX) per program type as determined pursuant to section 464.019, F.S.

(d) “Post-licensure nursing education program” means programs of study that advance the training of licensed Registered Nurses.

(e) “Pre-licensure nursing education program” means programs of study that prepare graduates to become eligible to apply to be licensed as a Licensed Practical Nurse or a Registered Nurse. 

(f) “Program completer” means a nursing program graduate as reported by the institution to the Department.

(3) Measures. The calculation of institutional allocations shall include the following measures. These measures, as described herein, are to be used for purposes of the distribution of the PIPELINE Fund, subject to appropriation and unless appropriated differently by the Florida Legislature.

(a) Pre-Licensure Nursing Program Performance. Institutions receive a proportion of funds based on the number of students who are awarded a certificate or degree in a pre-licensure nursing education program, which is weighted by licensure passage rates. Agency allocations are determined by:

1. Identifying the count of pre-licensure nursing programs completers.

2. Identifying the licensure passage rates for pre-licensure nursing programs.

3. Multiplying the pre-licensure completer counts by the licensure passage rates.

4. Using the completions weighted by licensure passage rates, calculating each eligible agency’s pro-rata share of the funds for pre-licensure nursing program performance.

(b) Pre-Licensure Nursing Program Excellence. Institutions receive a proportion of funds based on the number of students who are awarded a certificate or degree in a pre-licensure nursing education program, which is weighted by licensure passage rates exceeding the national average. Agency allocations are determined by:

1. Identifying the licensure passage rates for pre-licensure nursing programs.

2. Identifying the national average of licensure passage rates for pre-licensure nursing programs.

3. Calculating the percentage point difference for pre-licensure nursing programs with passage rates above the national average.

4. Calculating each eligible agency’s pro-rata share of the funds for pre-licensure nursing program excellence.

(c) Post-Licensure Nursing Program Performance. Institutions receive a proportion of funds based on the number of students who are awarded a certificate or degree in a post-licensure nursing education program.  Agency allocations are determined by:

1. Identifying the count of post-licensure nursing programs completers.

2. Calculating each eligible agency’s pro-rata share of the funds for post-licensure nursing program performance.

(4) Funding. Subject to appropriation, the Department shall notify institutions of the allocations and the timeline for disbursement. 

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1009.897(4) FS. Law Implemented 1009.897 FS. History‒New

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Dr. Carrie Henderson, Executive Vice Chancellor, Division of Florida Colleges.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Manny Diaz Jr., Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 18, 2022

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: June 29, 2022