Bill No.: SF0003 Drafter: JHR

LSO No.: 06LSO-0216 Effective Date: 7/1/2006

Enrolled Act No.: SEA0017

Chapter No.: 19

Prime Sponsor: Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Catch Title: Advanced practice registered nurses in psychiatry.

Subject: Establishes an educational loan program for students seeking to specialize as advanced practice registered nurses in psychiatry.

Summary/Major Elements:

· This bill:

· Creates an educational loan program for students seeking to specialize as advanced practice registered nurses (APNs) in psychiatry;

· Authorizes the University of Wyoming (UW) Board of Trustees to enter into contracts with other states for the training of APNs in psychiatry and to expend funds in connection with the program;

· Requires registered nurses who enter the program to enter into agreements to practice as an APN in psychiatry in Wyoming in exchange for loan forgiveness, or to repay loans provided under the program;

· Authorizes the UW board of trustees to relieve a student of repayment obligations if it would cause undue hardship;

· Creates the advanced practice registered nurse in psychiatry fund to be maintained and separately accounted for by UW, which shall be used solely for loan payments under the program;

· Provides an appropriation for the program.

Comments:

· Report Required: UW to submit 2 annual reports to Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee by Oct. 1 regarding: 1) the number of students relieved of repayment obligations due to undue hardship, and 2) expenditures made under the program for the preceding fiscal year

· Creates/amends major program: Creates an educational loan program for students seeking to specialize as advanced practice registered nurses in psychiatry.