BILL REQ. #:  H-2101.2 

READ FIRST TIME 02/28/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to improving the delivery of health care services for school-aged children; creating new sections; making an appropriation; 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 increasingly required to play an 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. 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, human growth and development, and personal safety education. Schools are asked to coordinate with families and community services to manage students with significant health problems and to make referrals to appropriate community services. Schools are required to abide by rules of confidentiality and to properly maintain health care records. The legislature finds that additional school nurses with the appropriate expertise are needed in our schools to play a pivotal role in improving the health and educational success of the school-age child.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The office of superintendent of public instruction shall develop a work group to assess school nursing services in class I school districts. The work group may consult with representatives from the following groups: School nurses, schools, students, parents, teachers, health officials, and administrators.
     (2) The work group shall:
     (a) Study the need for additional school nursing services by gathering data about current school nurse-to-student ratios in each class I school district and assessing the demand for school nursing services by acuity levels and the necessary skills to meet those demands. The work group also shall recommend to the legislature best practices in school nursing services, including a dedicated, sustainable funding model that would best meet the current and future needs of Washington's schools and contribute to greater academic success of all students. The work group shall assess whether funding for school nurses should continue as part of basic education; and
     (b) In collaboration with managed care plans that contract with the department of social and health services medical assistance administration to provide health services to children participating in the medicaid and state children's health insurance program, identify opportunities to improve coordination of and access to health services for low-income children through the use of school nurse services. The work group shall evaluate the feasibility of pooling school district and managed care plan funding to finance school nurse positions in school districts with high numbers of low-income children.
     (3) As used in this section, "school nurse" means a person who:
     (a) Holds a bachelor of science degree in nursing, including training in public health nursing;
     (b) Holds a valid license as a registered nurse (RN) in Washington state; and
     (c) Is certified as an educational staff associate under the requirements established by the office of superintendent of public instruction.
     (4) The office of superintendent of public instruction shall report its findings and plans for implementation to the legislature by February 1, 2006.
     (5) This section expires June 30, 2006.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The sum of forty-five thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, from the general fund to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2005, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.