AN ACT
ENTITLED, An Act to
establish a tuition reimbursement program for nurses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section
1.
A nurse is eligible to receive tuition reimbursement payments pursuant to this Act if
the nurse is licensed to practice nursing pursuant to chapter 36-9 and agrees to practice full time as
a nurse in an eligible health care facility for a minimum period of two years. However, no more than
sixty nurses may participate in this program at any specified time.
Section
2.
For purposes of this Act, an eligible health care facility is any facility in this state which:
(1) Is licensed pursuant to chapter 34-12 or certified under Title XVIII or XIX of the Social
Security Act as amended to December 31, 2001;
(2) Agrees to provide its portion of the tuition reimbursement payments payable to a nurse
who practices in the health care facility as required by this Act; and
(3) Is determined to be eligible by the Department of Health.
Prior to making a determination under subdivision (3) of this section, the Department of Health
shall promulgate rules pursuant to chapter 1-26 to establish specific criteria to evaluate each facility's
need for nurses.
Section
3.
A nurse who fulfills the requirements of this Act is entitled to receive tuition
reimbursement in the amount of five thousand dollars.
Section
4.
Any agreement for the payment of tuition reimbursement pursuant to this Act shall
obligate the facility employing the nurse to provide a portion of the total amount of tuition
reimbursement based on the following criteria: health care facilities in communities of two thousand
five hundred persons or less shall provide twenty-five percent of tuition reimbursement payments and
health care facilities in communities of greater than two thousand five hundred persons shall provide
fifty percent of tuition reimbursement payments. When the facility certifies to the secretary of health
that it has paid the full amount for which it is obligated, the secretary of health shall pay to the nurse
the remaining balance of the total tuition reimbursement amount. Reimbursement shall be paid upon
the nurse's completion of the required two-year practice period. However, a facility may pay its
portion of tuition reimbursement at any time during the two-year period.
Section
5.
Any county or municipality may appropriate funds for the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of this Act.
Section
6.
No tuition reimbursement agreement entered into pursuant to the provisions of this Act
is effective until it is filed with and approved by the secretary of health. The secretary may prescribe
the form of agreements and procedures for approval by rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26.
Section
7.
No person may participate in the tuition reimbursement program established by this
Act who is participating in, or has previously participated in, this or any other state or federal tuition
reimbursement or forgiveness program.
An Act to establish a tuition reimbursement program for nurses.
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I certify that the attached
Act
originated in the
HOUSE as
Bill
No.
1258
____________________________
Chief Clerk
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____________________________
Speaker of the House
____________________________
Chief Clerk
____________________________
President of the Senate
____________________________
Secretary of the Senate
House
Bill
No.
1258
File No. ____
Chapter No. ______
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Received at this Executive Office
this _____ day of _____________ ,
20____ at ____________ M.
By _________________________
for the Governor
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The attached Act is hereby
approved this ________ day of
______________ , A.D., 20___
____________________________
Governor
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STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA,
ss.
Office of the Secretary of State
Filed ____________ , 20___
at _________ o'clock __ M.
____________________________
Secretary of State
By _________________________
Asst. Secretary of State
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