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The Committee on Commerce (Saunders) recommended the following

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amendment:

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     Senate Amendment (with title amendment)

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     Between line(s) 86 and 87

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insert:

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     Section 3. Nursing Education Faculty Enhancement Program --.

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     (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS. - The Legislature

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finds that developing and retaining nursing education faculty is

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a critical component to expanding the capacity of Florida's

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nursing programs, thereby increasing the supply of qualified

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nurses to Florida's healthcare system. The Legislature further

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finds that the demand for qualified nurses in Florida continues

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to increase with the aging of the "baby boom" population and its

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resulting need for healthcare services. Thus, healthcare remains

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a growth sector in Florida's economy that, with appropriate state

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and private resources, will result in a sustained increase in

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jobs and spending, thereby, contributing to the stabilization and

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expansion of Florida's economy.

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     (2) The Nursing Education Faculty Enhancement Program is

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created to provide funding for monetary incentive and recognition

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awards for promoting the recruitment and retention of nursing

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education faculty in Florida's nursing programs. The Agency for

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Work Force Innovation shall provide a monetary award annually to

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each eligible nursing education faculty member employed in a

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nursing program that educates Bachelor of Science in Nursing or

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higher degree students. To be eligible for an award, the faculty

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member must be certified by the nursing program to have been

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employed full time the prior academic year and to be in good

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standing and recommended for continued employment in the current

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academic year. The amount of the award shall be determined

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annually based on available funds, but shall not exceed $5000 for

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the master's degree prepared faculty members and $10,000 for

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doctoral prepared faculty members. Funds available for

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distribution pursuant to the program are contingent upon a one-

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to-one match of private contributions.

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================ T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================

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And the title is amended as follows:

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     Delete line(s) 17

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and insert:

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program; providing an appropriation; creating the Nursing

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Education Faculty Enhancement Program; providing

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legislative intent; provides guidelines for program;

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specifies role of the Agency for Workforce Innovation;

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establishes grant amounts; providing a

3/24/2008  9:20:00 AM     CM.CM.05541