The House Committee on Higher Education Budget on Friday voted to adopt an amendment to HB 2248, the Kansas Nursing Initiative Grant Program, that adds a required dollar-for-dollar institutional match, broadens allowable uses for grants and revises which postsecondary institutions are eligible to apply.

Vice Chair Sanders moved the amendment, which Representative Amex seconded. The committee carried the amendment by voice/hand vote and subsequently voted to report HB 2248 favorably as amended.

The amendment redefines a "postsecondary education institution" for the program to mean an institution with a physical presence in Kansas that offers a nursing course of instruction that is both nationally accredited and approved by the Kansas Board of Nursing. Revisor Walters told the committee that the change would include four additional institutions that otherwise were not captured by the statutory definition: Rasmussen University, MidAmerica College of Health Sciences, Galen College of Nursing and Allied Health Career Training.

The Legislature added a matching requirement in the amendment. The new text states the State Board of Regents "shall require a funding match on a dollar-for-dollar basis in order to be eligible for the grant." Committee members and outside stakeholders also removed a specific $100,000 cap on nonconsumable equipment from the statute. Elaine Frisbie of the Kansas Board of Regents told the committee removing the dollar cap makes the program "more evergreen and more flexible for us as an agency to administer the grants," allowing agencies to respond to future curricular or equipment needs without returning to the Legislature each time.

Jill Walters, the committee revisor, explained the definitional change: "There are 4 additional universities that are post secondary educations that have nursing programs that are approved by the board and nationally accredited ... Rasmussen University, Mid American College of Health Sciences, Galen College of Nursing, and Allied Health Career Training." She recommended removing a redundant subsection (Section D) from the statute to avoid duplication; the committee accepted that deletion as part of the amendment process.

Some members expressed concern the amendment substantially rewrote the bill. Representative Fairchild said the amendment "is sorta defeating one of the main points of the bill" by striking many lines and changing program structure, and said he would oppose the amendment. Other members argued the language would provide flexibility and help schools tailor support services and faculty funding to program needs.

Committee members also discussed program administration. Elaine Frisbie said the Board of Regents administers the grant through an RFP and a competitive external review committee that includes the Kansas Hospital Association and the State Board of Nursing, and that fiscal year 2025 funding for the program in HB 2007 totaled about $3.8 million. She said the Board can allow multi-year rollovers so institutions can aggregate funds to purchase larger items such as simulators.

After adopting the amendment the committee voted to report HB 2248 favorably as amended. The committee record shows motions and voice/hand votes but no roll-call tallies in the transcript.