HF 1582 Summary

• Establishes school nurse recruitment grants through the Department of Education for four program types: district staff training partnerships with postsecondary institutions, secondary student nursing career courses and clubs, clinical experience partnerships, and scholarships for high school graduates entering nursing programs.

• Creates a school nurse scholarship program administered by the Higher Education Commissioner providing up to $7,500 per student annually based on financial need, with eligibility requiring enrollment in Board of Nursing-approved programs and commitment to work in a Minnesota school district.

• Expands the existing health professional education loan forgiveness program to include nurses who agree to practice in a Minnesota school district or charter school, adding them to the list of eligible professions alongside medical residents, mental health professionals, and other health care workers.

• Requires grant recipients to report to the commissioner on fund usage, number of participants, and employment outcomes, with the commissioner publishing annual summaries and submitting reports to legislature by February 1 each year.

• Appropriates unspecified amounts from the general fund to the Department of Education for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 for recruitment grants and scholarships, with base funding to be established for fiscal year 2026; effective July 1, 2023.