Nursing license fees fund annual workforce grants and research

The Division of Professional Regulation charges an extra $10 for each initial or renewed nursing license and credits certain Board disciplinary fines to the fund. The surcharge covers initial and renewed licenses issued under the nursing chapter. The surcharge applies to licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses. The surcharge and fine deposits start January 1, 2027.

The Division administers the fund and awards its principal each year as a grant to one eligible nonprofit. The grant goes to a Delaware nonprofit that meets the listed nursing workforce requirements. The nonprofit must be a Delaware tax-exempt charity and carry out all five listed nursing workforce activities, including research, partnerships, public education, and free public information. Fund money may pay only for those activities and reasonable grant and Division administration costs. Recipients may not use it for unrelated administration or lobbying. The grant is awarded and distributed each July. The first distribution after the first award must be made by July 31, 2027.

A grant recipient reports its spending and completed work to state officials. The duty applies to a recipient of a Delaware Nursing Advancement Fund grant. The report goes to the Division, the Governor, the Joint Finance Committee chairs, the Controller General, and the Librarian and Director of Legislative Services. The first report is due beginning January 1, 2029, with another report every two years after that.