NJ S3578

Authorizes New Jersey county college boards of trustees to submit proposals to the New Jersey Presidents' Council to establish baccalaureate (four-year) degree nursing programs.

Requires proposals to include program descriptions, demonstration of unmet regional need, facility and resource identification, cost analysis, curriculum details, faculty credentials, enrollment projections, and accreditation plans.

Establishes a review timeline where the Presidents' Council has 30 days to identify deficiencies, 45 days to forward completed proposals with recommendations to the Secretary of Higher Education, who then has 60 days to issue a written approval or disapproval.

Conditions final program establishment on receiving accreditation from the New Jersey Board of Nursing.

Cites the 2010 Institute of Medicine recommendation to increase baccalaureate-prepared nurses to 80% of the workforce, noting insufficient capacity at four-year institutions to meet this goal.