S-4179.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6321

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By Senators Franklin, Wood, Fairley, Moyer, Wojahn, Thibaudeau, Rasmussen and McAuliffe

Read first time 01/11/96.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Studying the need for and funding for school nurses in public and private schools.

    AN ACT Relating to school nurses; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature recognizes that many students in the K-12 public and private school settings need appropriate nursing services to actively and fully participate and benefit from their education.  It is also recognized that there has been a growing number of children in public and private schools who need nursing services and that information on these changing conditions is presently lacking.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The legislative budget committee shall conduct or cause to be conducted a study on the need for school nurses in public and private schools in the state and possible funding sources.  The study shall include data on the number of school nurses presently working in all school districts in Washington state.  It shall also include the following information on the types of nursing care needs of children in school settings:  Nursing procedures and treatments currently provided, chronic illness, types of disabilities, and acuity or fragility of students receiving care.  The report shall include an analysis of how school districts presently determine their own need for school nurses.  The study shall be conducted during the 1996-97 school year and shall be reported to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 1997.

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