§18C-3-4. Nursing Scholarship Program; Nursing Scholarship and Workforce Fund; administration, scholarship awards; service requirements.

(a) There is continued in the State Treasury a special revolving fund account known as the "Nursing Scholarship and Workforce Fund" to be administered by the commission to implement the provisions of this section and §18B-16-6 of this code. Any moneys in the account on the effective date of this section are continued under the commission’s administrative authority. Balances remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year do not expire or revert to the general revenue. All costs associated with the administration of this section and §18B-16-6 of this code shall be paid from the Nursing Scholarship and Workforce Fund under the direction of the chancellor or his or her designee. Administrative costs are to be minimized and the maximum amount feasible is to be used to fund awards for students in nursing programs.

(b) The account is funded from the following sources:

(1) All moneys currently on deposit in the account or which are due or become due for deposit into the account as obligations made under the previous enactment of this section;

(2) Repayments, including interest as set by the chancellor or his or her designee, collected from recipients who fail to practice or teach in West Virginia under the terms of the scholarship agreement;

(3) Appropriation provided by the Legislature;

(4) Amounts provided by nursing or medical associations, hospitals, or other nursing or medical provider organizations in this state, or by a political subdivision of the state under an agreement that requires the recipient to practice nursing in this state or in the political subdivision providing the funds for a predetermined period of time and in such capacity as set forth in the agreement; and  

(5) Any other funds from any source as may be added to the account.

(c) The commission shall administer a scholarship, designated the Nursing Scholarship Program, designed to benefit nurses who practice in hospitals and other health care institutions in West Virginia or teach in state nursing programs.

(1) Awards are available for students enrolled in accredited nursing programs in West Virginia. A recipient shall execute an agreement to fulfill a service requirement or repay the amount of any award received.

(2) Awards are made as follows, subject to the rule required by this section:

(A) An award for any student may not exceed the full cost of education for program completion.

(B) An award of up to $3,000 is available for a student in a licensed practical nurse education program. A recipient is required to practice nursing in West Virginia for one year following program completion.

(C) An award of up to $7,500 is available for a student in a registered nurse education program: Provided, That students enrolled in pre-licensure programs must have completed half of the required nursing credits for that program to be eligible for an award. A recipient is required to teach or practice nursing in West Virginia for two years following program completion.

(D) An award of up to $15,000 is available to a student in a nursing master’s degree program or a doctoral nursing or education program. A recipient is required to teach in West Virginia for two years following program completion.

(E) An award of up to $1,000 per year is available for a student obtaining a licensed practical nurse teaching certificate. A recipient is required to teach in West Virginia for one year per award received.

(d) An award recipient shall satisfy one of the following conditions:

(1) Fulfill the service requirement pursuant to this section and the legislative rule authorized in subsection (e) below; or

(2) Repay the commission for the amount awarded, together with accrued interest as stipulated in the service agreement.

(e) The commission shall promulgate a rule for legislative approval pursuant to §29A-3A-1 et seq. of this code to implement and administer this section. The rule shall provide for the following:

(1) Eligibility and selection criteria for program participation;

(2) Terms of a service agreement which a recipient shall execute as a condition of receiving an award;

(3) Repayment provisions for a recipient who fails to fulfill the service requirement;

(4) Forgiveness options for death or disability of a recipient;

(5) An appeal process for students denied participation or ordered to repay awards; and

(6) Additional provisions as necessary to implement this section.