Nurses, Nursing - As enacted, requires the board of nursing to permit a student to enroll in a practical nursing program offered by a public institution of higher education governed by the Tennessee board of regents if t, the official text

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State f/Jettnessee

PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 435

           SENATE BILL NO. 644

By Crowe, Harshbarger, Bowling

Substituted for: House Bill No. 865

By Tim Hicks, Terry, Crawford, Cepicky, Lafferty, Bricken, Keisling, Haston, Farmer, Helton-Haynes

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49 and Title 63, relative to schools of nursing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

         SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 7, Part 2, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:

(a) Notwithstanding§ 63-7-207(7), the board shall permit:

         (1) A student to enroll in a practical nursing program offered by a public
institution of higher education governed by the Tennessee board of regents if the
student:

(A) Meets the qualifications for a high school diploma or its equivalent;

         (B) Meets the institution's admission requirements for the program;
and

(C) Is admitted by the institution into the program;

         (2) In addition to the program described in subdivision (1 ), a public institution
of higher education governed by the Tennessee board of regents to offer dual
enrollment programs in pre-practical nursing and practical nursing to students
enrolled in high school, if the student:

(A) Is in the tenth grade or a higher grade level;

         (B) Meets the institution's admission requirements for the dual
enrollment program; and

(C) Is admitted by the institution into the dual enrollment program; and

         (3) A student enrolled in a practical nursing program to sit for the national
council licensure exam for practical nurses (NCLEX-PN) upon completion of a
practical nursing program.

         (b) The department of health is authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate this
section. The rules must be promulgated in accordance with the Uniform Administrative
Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.

SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.
         SENATE BILL NO. 644

PASSED:  April 22, 2025

         ~               ~- ~1.~"'-
                            -~ - - • RAND\McNALLY
                                      SPEAKER OF THE SENATE

                          C .,,,,.,~

                         CAMERONSEXTON,SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

qtt Mo.i.i APPROVED this
         day of               2025

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         BILL LEE, GOVERNOR