Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 3.djvu/277

 PUBLIC LAW 102-408—OCT. 13, 1992 106 STAT. 2071 " (c) CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR NURSES IN MEDICALLY UNDER- SERVED COMMUNITIES. — The Secretary may make grants to and enter into contracts with public and nonprofit private entities for the purpose of providing continuing education for nurses serving in medically underserved communities. "(d) LONG-TERM CARE FELLOWSHIPS FOR CERTAIN PARAPROFES- SIONALS.— "(1) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary may make grants to and enter into contracts with public and nonprofit private entities that operate accredited programs of education in professional nursing, or State-board approved programs of practical or vocational nursing, for the purpose of providing fellowships to individuals described in paragraph (2) for attendance in such programs. "(2) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. —The individuals referred to in paragraph (1) are individuals who are employed by nursing facilities or home health agencies as nursing paraprofessionals. " (3) PREFERENCE FOR SCHOOLS WITH RAPID TRANSITION PRO- GRAMS.—In making awards of grants and contracts under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall g^ve preference to any qualified applicant operating an accredited program of education in professional nursing that provides for the rapid transition to status as a professional nurse from status as a nursing paraprofessional. "(4) PREFERENCE IN AWARD OF FELLOWSHIPS.— The Secretary may make an award of a grant or contract under paragraph (1) only if the applicant involved agrees that, in providing fellowships under the award, the applicant will'give preference to individuals described in paragraph (2) who— "(A) are economically disadvantaged individuals, particularly such individuals who are members of a minority group that is underrepresented among registered nurses; or "(B) are employed by a nursing facility that will assist in paying the costs or expenses described in paragraph (5)(A) with respect to the individuals. "(5) USE OF AWARD. —The Secretary may make an award of a grant or contract under paragraph (1) only if the applicant involved agrees that fellowships provided with the award will pay all or part of the costs of— "(A) the tuition, books, and fees of the program of nursing with respect to which the fellowship is provided; and "(B) reasonable living expenses of the individual during the period for which the fellowship is provided. "(6) DEFINITION. —For purposes oi this section: "(A) The term 'home health agency* has the meaning given such term in section 1861 of the Social Security Act. "(B) The term 'nursing facility* has the meaning given such term in section 1919 of the Social Security Act. "(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1993 and 1994.". (b) DEFINITION OF MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.— Section 853 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 298b) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

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