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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 21, 2023 11:41 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Kristin Marcell and Rep. Perry S. Warren |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Programs (Prior HB 2594) |
| In the near future, we plan to introduce legislation that will allow Pennsylvania’s community colleges to offer four-year Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing programs. Currently under the Public School Code of 1949, a community college may offer a degree no higher than an Associate Degree. As a result, a student seeking a Baccalaureate Degree must enroll in a college or university that may have cost-prohibitive tuition rates or may be located far from the student’s home, forcing the student to pay for costly room and board or interfering with the student’s family responsibilities. Such barriers may block many qualified students from achieving their educational goals. Additionally, Pennsylvania is facing a severe shortage of registered nurses. The shortage, which has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is impacting our local hospitals, medical and care providers, leaving many unable to fill open positions. By allowing community colleges to offer Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing programs, our legislation will expand affordable nursing education opportunities for Pennsylvania students and help to combat the current shortage of registered nurses. Please join us in cosponsoring this legislation. Previous Cosponsors: Farry, Hill-Evans, Staats, Thomas, Hennessey, M. Mackenzie, DeLuca, Tomlinson, Polinchock, Labs, Ciresi, and Gillen |
Introduced as HB90