CHAPTER 3. NURSING SCHOLARSHIP FUND
IC 21-13-3
Chapter 3. Nursing Scholarship Fund
IC 21-13-3-1
Nursing scholarship fund; established
Sec. 1. (a) The nursing scholarship fund is established:
(1) to encourage and promote qualified individuals to pursue acareer in nursing in Indiana; and
(2) to rectify the shortage of nurses in Indiana.
(b) The fund consists of the following:
(1) Appropriations by the general assembly.
(2) Gifts to the fund.
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.
IC 21-13-3-2
Administration of fund
Sec. 2. (a) The commission shall administer the fund.
(b) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid frommoney in the fund.
(c) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund notcurrently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the samemanner as other public funds. Interest that accrues from thoseinvestments must be deposited in the fund.
(d) Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year does not revert tothe state general fund but remains available to be used for providingmoney for nursing scholarships under this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254. Amended by P.L.234-2007,SEC.52.
IC 21-13-3-3
Use of fund; eligibility requirement; amount of award
Sec. 3. The money in the fund must be used to provide annualscholarships to nursing students who qualify by demonstrating afinancial need and meeting the requirements in this chapter. Anannual scholarship awarded under this subsection is equal to thelesser of the following amounts:
(1) The balance of the student's total cost of tuition or fees inattending the eligible institution for the academic year.
(2) Five thousand dollars ($5,000).
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.
IC 21-13-3-4
Use of fund; approval of award
Sec. 4. A scholarship awarded under this chapter may be usedonly for the payment of educational costs that are:
(1) approved by the approved postsecondary educationalinstitution that awards the scholarship; and
(2) not otherwise payable under any other scholarship or formof financial assistance specifically designated for educationalcosts.As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.
IC 21-13-3-5
Qualifications for initial scholarship
Sec. 5. To initially qualify for a scholarship from the fund, anursing student must:
(1) be admitted to an approved postsecondary educationalinstitution as a full-time or part-time nursing student in aprogram that will meet the requirements to allow the student toobtain licensing as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurseunder IC 25-23-1;
(2) agree, in writing, to work as a registered nurse or licensedpractical nurse providing direct patient care in:
(A) an acute care or specialty hospital;
(B) a long term care facility;
(C) a rehabilitation care facility;
(D) a home health care entity;
(E) a hospice program;
(F) a mental health facility; or
(G) a facility located in a shortage area (as defined inIC 16-46-5-6);
in Indiana for at least two (2) years following graduation;
(3) meet any other minimum criteria established by thecommission; and
(4) demonstrate a financial need for the scholarship.
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254. Amended by P.L.55-2009, SEC.1.
IC 21-13-3-6
Qualifications for scholarship renewal
Sec. 6. To qualify for a scholarship renewal from the fund, anursing student must:
(1) comply with the criteria set forth in section 5 of this chapter;
(2) maintain at least the cumulative grade point average:
(A) that is required by an approved postsecondaryeducational institution for admission to the approvedpostsecondary educational institution; or
(B) equivalent to 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale, as establishedby the approved postsecondary educational institution, if theinstitution's nursing program does not require a certainminimum cumulative grade point average; and
(3) demonstrate a continuing financial need for the scholarship.
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.
IC 21-13-3-7
Term of student eligibility
Sec. 7. Subject to section 11 of this chapter, a scholarshipawarded may be renewed under section 6 of this chapter for a totalnumber of terms that does not exceed:
(1) eight (8) full-time (or part-time equivalent) semesters; or
(2) twelve (12) full-time (or part-time equivalent) quarters.As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.
IC 21-13-3-8
Renewal of scholarship; restriction
Sec. 8. The approved postsecondary educational institution maynot grant a scholarship renewal to a student for an academic year thatends later than six (6) years after the date the student received theinitial scholarship under this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.
IC 21-13-3-9
Information; number of nursing students
Sec. 9. The commission for higher education shall provide thecommission with the most recent information concerning the numberof nursing students enrolled at each approved postsecondaryeducational institution.
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.
IC 21-13-3-10
Allocation of fund
Sec. 10. The commission shall allocate the available money fromthe fund to each approved postsecondary educational institution thathas a nursing program in proportion to the number of nursingstudents enrolled at each approved postsecondary educationalinstitution based upon the information received from the commissionfor higher education.
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.
IC 21-13-3-11
Determination of scholarship recipients
Sec. 11. Each approved postsecondary educational institutionshall determine the scholarship recipients under this chapter basedupon the criteria set forth in this chapter and the rules adopted by thecommission. In addition, the approved postsecondary educationalinstitution shall consider the need of the applicant when awardingscholarships under this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.
IC 21-13-3-12
Reallocation of fund
Sec. 12. Any funds that:
(1) are allocated to an approved postsecondary educationalinstitution; and
(2) are not used for scholarships under this chapter;
shall be returned to the commission for reallocation by thecommission to any other eligible institution in need of additionalfunds.
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.
IC 21-13-3-13 Maintenance of records
Sec. 13. The commission shall maintain complete and accuraterecords in implementing the program, including the following:
(1) The number of scholarships awarded under this chapter.
(2) The number of individuals who fulfilled the agreementdescribed under section 5 of this chapter.
(3) The number of individuals who did not fulfill the agreementdescribed under section 5 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.
IC 21-13-3-14
Duties of eligible institutions
Sec. 14. Each eligible institution shall provide the commissionwith information concerning the following:
(1) The awarding of scholarships under this chapter.
(2) The academic progress made by each recipient of ascholarship under this chapter.
(3) Other pertinent information requested by the commission.
As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.254.