§ 46:1131 — Parish hospitals and hospital service districts; nursing and allied health scholarship

§1131. Parish hospitals and hospital service districts; nursing and allied health scholarship
program; establishment; administration; funding
A. The board of commissioners of each hospital or hospital service district,
hereinafter referred to as the board or the board of commissioners, is authorized to establish
and administer a scholarship program for the purpose of increasing the educational
opportunities available to nursing and allied health students who will practice in an area of
the hospital district approved by the board of commissioners. Each board which establishes
a program may award scholarships to individuals who are admitted or engaged in the study
of nursing or allied health at an accredited school of nursing or allied health and who contract
to practice nursing or an allied health profession in the district or parish, as provided in this
Chapter. Each scholarship shall be awarded for the purpose of defraying the costs of tuition,
fees, and other related expenses and cost for attendance at nursing or allied health school.
The board may, at any time and in its discretion, determine not to grant a scholarship under
the program.
B. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply solely to monies generated by the
respective boards through their facilities, and upon the initiation of such a program, the
program shall become a part of the annual hospital budget.
C. For the purpose of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) "Allied health" means any generally recognized medical profession or vocation
including but not limited to occupational, respiratory, vocational, physical, and other
therapies; medical, radiologic, and other technologists; pharmacists, social workers, athletic
trainers, and other similar professions and vocations.
(2) "Nursing" means nursing as practiced by an individual who has graduated from
an accredited school of nursing, passed the licensing examination, and been issued a license
to practice as a registered nurse in this state by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing or a
license to practice as a practical nurse in this state by the Louisiana State Board of Practical
Nurse Examiners.

Legislative History

Acts 1988, No. 54, §1; Acts 2023, No. 33, §1, eff. June 1, 2023.