SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5340

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 25, 1991

Brief Description:  Establishing nurse/student ratios for schools.

SPONSORS:Senators Rinehart, West, Saling and Stratton.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Staff:  Leslie Goldstein (786‑7424)

Hearing Dates:February 25, 1991

BACKGROUND:

School districts may choose whether or not to provide school nursing programs.  Although evaluation of immunizations and screening for hearing, vision and scoliosis are required, medically trained staff are not required to be provided by school districts.

SUMMARY:

School districts are required to maintain specified ratios of students to school nurses on a trial basis from the 1991-92 school year through the 1996-97 school year.  Beginning with the 1991-92 school year, one school nurse is required for every 2,500 fulltime equivalent students; in the 1992-93 school year, one school nurse for every 2,000 fulltime equivalent students is required; in the 1993-94 school year, one school nurse for every 1,500 fulltime equivalent students is required; and for the 1994-95 through 1996-97 school years, one school nurse for every 1,000 fulltime equivalent students is required. 

The Superintendent of Public Instruction reports to the Legislature by December 1, 1996 on the effect of the program and makes recommendations about whether funding for school nurses should become part of basic education.

School nurses are defined as persons holding educational staff associate certificates as a school nurse.  The term also includes certain persons who worked as nurses in school settings before the law takes effect and persons working as nurses in second class school districts.

The program expires June 30, 1997.

Appropriation:  $31,400,000

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available