Section 5404

SEC. 5404. WORKFORCE DIVERSITY GRANTS.

Section 821 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 296m] is amended--

[1] in subsection [a]--

[A] by striking 'The Secretary may' and inserting the following:

'[1] AUTHORITY- The Secretary may';

[B] by striking 'pre-entry preparation, and retention activities' and inserting the following: 'stipends for diploma or associate degree nurses to enter a bridge or degree completion program, student scholarships or stipends for accelerated nursing degree programs, pre-entry preparation, advanced education preparation, and retention activities'; and

[2] in subsection [b]--

[A] by striking 'First' and all that follows through 'including the' and inserting 'National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice and consult with nursing associations including the National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Associations,'; and

[B] by inserting before the period the following: ', and other organizations determined appropriate by the Secretary'.