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Statutory Text

SEC. 5309. NURSE EDUCATION, PRACTICE, AND RETENTION GRANTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 831 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 296p) is amended—
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘RETENTION’’ and
inserting ‘‘QUALITY’’;
(2) in subsection (a)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by adding ‘‘or’’ after the semicolon;
(B) by striking paragraph (2); and
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2);
(3) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘managed care, quality
improvement’’ and inserting ‘‘coordinated care’’;
(4) in subsection (g), by inserting ‘‘, as defined in section
801(2),’’ after ‘‘school of nursing’’; and

(5) in subsection (h), by striking ‘‘2003 through 2007’’ and
inserting ‘‘2010 through 2014’’.
(b) NURSE RETENTION GRANTS.—Title VIII of the Public Health
Service Act is amended by inserting after section 831 (42 U.S.C.
296b) the following:
‘‘SEC. 831A. NURSE RETENTION GRANTS.
‘‘(a) RETENTION PRIORITY AREAS.—The Secretary may award
grants to, and enter into contracts with, eligible entities to enhance
the nursing workforce by initiating and maintaining nurse retention
programs pursuant to subsection (b) or (c).
‘‘(b) GRANTS FOR CAREER LADDER PROGRAM.—The Secretary
may award grants to, and enter into contracts with, eligible entities
for programs—
‘‘(1) to promote career advancement for individuals
including licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses,
certified nurse assistants, home health aides, diploma degree
or associate degree nurses, to become baccalaureate prepared
registered nurses or advanced education nurses in order to
meet the needs of the registered nurse workforce;
‘‘(2) developing and implementing internships and residency programs in collaboration with an accredited school of
nursing, as defined by section 801(2), to encourage mentoring
and the development of specialties; or
‘‘(3) to assist individuals in obtaining education and
training required to enter the nursing profession and advance
within such profession.
‘‘(c) ENHANCING PATIENT CARE DELIVERY SYSTEMS.—
‘‘(1) GRANTS.—The Secretary may award grants to eligible
entities to improve the retention of nurses and enhance patient
care that is directly related to nursing activities by enhancing
collaboration and communication among nurses and other
health care professionals, and by promoting nurse involvement
in the organizational and clinical decision-making processes
of a health care facility.
‘‘(2) PRIORITY.—In making awards of grants under this
subsection, the Secretary shall give preference to applicants
that have not previously received an award under this subsection (or section 831(c) as such section existed on the day
before the date of enactment of this section).
‘‘(3) CONTINUATION OF AN AWARD.—The Secretary shall
make continuation of any award under this subsection beyond
the second year of such award contingent on the recipient
of such award having demonstrated to the Secretary measurable and substantive improvement in nurse retention or patient
care.
‘‘(d) OTHER PRIORITY AREAS.—The Secretary may award grants
to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities to address other
areas that are of high priority to nurse retention, as determined
by the Secretary.
‘‘(e) REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the Congress before
the end of each fiscal year a report on the grants awarded and
the contracts entered into under this section. Each such report
shall identify the overall number of such grants and contracts
and provide an explanation of why each such grant or contract
will meet the priority need of the nursing workforce.

‘‘(f) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—For purposes of this section, the term
‘eligible entity’ includes an accredited school of nursing, as defined
by section 801(2), a health care facility, or a partnership of such
a school and facility.
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may
be necessary for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2012.’’.