SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6008

BYSenators Rinehart, Bailey, Gaspard and Bauer

Permitting health personnel to be employed by all school districts.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 4, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6008 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Gaspard, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Rinehart, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Bender, Benitz, Patterson, Saling, Smitherman, Warnke.

Senate Staff:Marcia Costello (786-7419)

                  March 10, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 4, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Under RCW 28A.60.320 second class school districts (less than 2000 students) may employ a physician or a licensed public health nurse to protect the health of children.  A similar provision is not made for first class (2000 students or greater) districts. There are currently 268.9 FTE school nurses serving approximately 1,695 schools and 723,000 students in the state.

SUMMARY:

The language currently in RCW 28A.60.320 which applies to second class districts is repealed and the same language is placed in RCW 28A.58 which contains provisions applying to all school districts.  An appropriation is made to the Superintendent of Public Instruction to be distributed on a per pupil basis to all school districts for improvements in school health services.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The term "certificated school nurse" replaces "licensed public health nurse".  Other licensed health professionals may be hired if they meet criteria established by the State Board of Education.  The appropriation section is removed.

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Charles Talmage, Association of Washington School Principals; Pam Baldwin, School Nurses Organization of Washington; Donna Gamble, Tacoma School District; Judy Harmann, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction