Bill > HB815

This bill transfers the authority for administering nursing scholarships and loan repayment programs from the Board of Health to the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority (the Authority), a public entity established to improve the health workforce in Virginia. The Authority will now be responsible for awarding these scholarships, which are intended to increase the number of nurses in the Commonwealth, particularly in underserved areas. The bill also grants the Authority the power to create its own regulations for these programs, exempting them from certain standard administrative procedures, and requires the Authority to establish an annual reporting schedule for health workforce data from various state agencies to aid in planning and evaluation. Furthermore, the Authority will oversee and provide strategic guidance to the newly established Virginia Nursing Workforce Center, which will have its own advisory board to guide its efforts in addressing nursing workforce needs. The Authority will also be empowered to evaluate all state-supported health workforce programs, including scholarships and loan repayment initiatives, to assess their effectiveness and recommend improvements.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB815