GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

S	1 

SENATE BILL 845*

Short Title:  Healthy Schools Act.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Lee and Purcell.

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Referred to:  Appropriations/Base Budget.

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April 13, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE A HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY HIRING ONE HUNDRED FIFTY SCHOOL NURSES PER YEAR TO REACH A RATIO OF ONE SCHOOL NURSE FOR EVERY SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY STUDENTS BY THE YEAR 2010.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.(a)	There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of six million dollars ($6,000,000) for fiscal year 1999-2000 to hire 150 school nurses and the sum of twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) for fiscal year 2000-2001 to hire an additional 150 school nurses.  Disbursement of these monies by the Department shall be based on criteria established by a Healthy Schools Committee composed of one representative each from the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Public Instruction, NC Center for Nursing, North Carolina Nurses Association, School Nurses Association of North Carolina, North Carolina Hospital Association, North Carolina Pediatric Society, Area Health Education Center, the UNC Council of Deans of Education, the Council of Deans of Baccalaureate/Higher Degree Nursing Education Programs, and the North Carolina Association of Public Health Nurse Administrators. A local committee composed of representatives from the schools, health department, and health care providers shall develop a proposal based on these criteria.  Funds shall be allocated by the Department for these school nurse positions upon submission of a written plan with the intent to fund at least one position for each of the 117 school districts until the ratio of one school nurse for each 750 students is reached within that school district.
Nurses hired pursuant to the provisions of this act shall be used to ensure that all schools are served by qualified school nurses responsible for providing or arranging for the following school health services in collaboration with local providers of primary and preventive health care:
(1)	Developing and implementing plans for preventing and responding to communicable disease outbreaks;
(2)	Developing and implementing plans for emergency medical assistance for students and staff members;
(3)	On-site supervision of specialized clinical services and associated health teaching for students with chronic conditions, other special health needs, and developmental disabilities;
(4)	Routine administration of medication and associated health teaching or appropriate arrangements for these services by other school staff;
(5)	Active participation in establishing and implementing health-related policies for schools or school systems;
(6)	Developing and maintaining effective links between schools and local health care providers for consultation and service provision including community and hospital-based providers of medical and dental services;
(7)	Health-related teaching and consultation for students and families as needed to address specific health needs including obtaining access to needed health care services and augmenting ongoing health education activities;
(8)	Providing or arranging for routine health assessments, such as vision, hearing, or dental screening, and follow-up referrals as necessary; and
(9)	Assuring that State-mandated health-related activities are completed within the school setting.
Section 1.(b)	There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of six hundred twenty thousand dollars ($620,000) for fiscal year 1999-2000 and the sum of nine hundred thirty thousand dollars ($930,000) for fiscal year 2000-2001 to provide funding for computers, travel reimbursement, health room supplies, and other equipment as needed by school nurses hired under the provisions of this act.
Section 1.(c)	There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for fiscal year 1999-2000 and the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) for fiscal year 2000-2001 to develop postbaccalaureate training programs and provide incentives to registered nurses to enter the field of school nursing.  A consortium of representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services School Nurse Consultants, the Council of Deans of Baccalaureate/Higher Degree Nursing Education Programs, the North Carolina AHEC Nursing Council, the UNC Council of Deans of Education, the School Nurses Association of North Carolina, the North Carolina Association of Public Health Nurse Administrators, and the North Carolina Center for Nursing shall work collaboratively to develop these educational programs.
Section 1.(d)	There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Nursing Scholars Commission the sum of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000) for fiscal year 1999-2000 and the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for fiscal year 2000-2001 to provide funding for 25 RN to BSN scholarships for registered nurses pursuing a career in school nursing.  In addition, the Nursing Scholars Commission shall be requested to allocate funding from its existing funds for 25 baccalaureate scholarships in each year of the biennium for students pursuing a career in school nursing.
Section 2.  All school nurses employed under this act must be currently licensed as registered nurses in North Carolina, be baccalaureate prepared, and either nationally certified as a school nurse or become certified within three years of being hired by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the National Association of School Nurses.
Section 3.  When employing school nurses under this act, certified school nurses shall be placed on the Grade 71 salary schedule.  School nurses working toward certification shall be placed on the Grade 70 salary schedule.
Section 4.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1999.