An Act to encourage, and improve the level of availability of nursing staff

This bill creates a new Nursing Scholarship Program to help address the shortage of nursing staff in Massachusetts by offering financial aid to students. The program would provide up to four years of full tuition coverage for students enrolled in accredited bachelor's degree nursing programs within the state. In exchange for this funding, graduates must commit to working full-time for at least two years in a qualified medical or healthcare facility in Massachusetts. The Department of Public Health would be responsible for managing the program and reporting on its progress annually.