S-4470.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6546
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Deccio, Wood, Wojahn, Rasmussen, Hochstatter, McAuliffe, Finkbeiner, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Oke and Patterson)
Read first time 02/02/98.
AN ACT Relating to school nurses; adding new sections to chapter 28A.210 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that schools are being asked to play an increasingly expanding role in protecting our children's health. Schools are responsible for monitoring the immunization of children, evaluating children's hearing and vision, and screening for scoliosis. Chronically ill children often require medically ordered treatment to enable them to attend school. Prescription medication is often required to be given to children during the school day. Schools are also responsible for identifying and reporting child abuse, identifying drug and alcohol problems, treating emergencies, providing counseling and assistance for teenage parents, and providing AIDS education. The legislature finds that expertise is needed in our schools to protect the health of students in our schools and to help students learn.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.210 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Beginning with the 1999-2000 school year, each school district shall maintain a ratio of not less than one nurse for every one thousand five hundred full-time equivalent students. In the 2000-2001 school year, each school district shall maintain a ratio of not less than one nurse for every one thousand full-time equivalent students. In the 2001-2002 school year, each school district shall maintain a ratio of not less than one nurse for every seven hundred fifty full-time equivalent students. School districts may contract with educational service districts to ensure there is never less than one nurse for every seven hundred fifty full-time equivalent students in the educational service district.
(2) As used in this section, "nurse" means a person who holds a valid license as a registered nurse (RN) in Washington state under chapter 18.79 RCW;
(3) Any school district which currently exceeds the nurse to student ratios set forth in this section will maintain at least a ratio of one nurse to seven hundred fifty students.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. By December 31, 2001, the superintendent of public instruction shall submit a report to the legislature on the implementation of section 2 of this act and the impact of the services provided. The report shall include recommendations about whether funding for school nurses should be an ongoing responsibility of the state and part of basic education.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.210 RCW to read as follows:
Beginning in the 1998-99 school year, the determination of years of service for registered nurses shall include both in-school and out-of-school experience as registered nurses.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 through 3 of this act expire June 30, 2002.
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