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department to maintain the current level of credentialing staff until 1 the completion of the study on fees by Results WA. 2 (126) $280,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal 3 year 2024 and $280,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for 4 fiscal year 2025 are provided solely for the department to contract 5 with the central nursing resource center established in RCW 18.79.202 6 to facilitate communication between nursing education programs and 7 health care facilities that offer clinical placements for the purpose 8 of increasing clinical education and practice experiences for nursing 9 students. The department shall contract with the central nursing 10 resource center to: 11 (a) Gather data to assess current clinical placement practices, 12 opportunities, and needs; 13 (b) Identify all approved nursing education programs and health 14 care facilities that offer clinical placement opportunities in the 15 state; 16 (c) Convene and facilitate quarterly stakeholder meetings between 17 representatives from approved nursing education programs and health 18 care facilities that offer clinical placement opportunities, and 19 other relevant stakeholders, in order to: 20 (i) Connect representatives by region; 21 (ii) Facilitate discussions between representatives, by region, 22 to determine: 23 (A) Clinical placement barriers; 24 (B) The number and types of clinical placement opportunities 25 needed; and 26 (C) The number and types of clinical placement opportunities 27 available; and 28 (iii) Develop strategies to resolve clinical placement barriers; 29 (d) Provide a digital message board and communication platform 30 representatives can use to maintain ongoing communication and 31 clinical placement needs and opportunities; 32 (e) Identify other policy options and recommendations to help 33 increase the number of clinical placement opportunities, if possible; 34 and 35 (f) Submit a report of findings, progress, and recommendations to 36 the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by 37 December 1, 2025. 38 p. 344 ESSB 5187.SL