SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6523

As of February 5, 2004

Title: An act relating to school nurses.

Brief Description: Improving the delivery of health care services to school children.

Sponsors: Senators Deccio, Franklin, Pflug, Prentice, Keiser, Winsley, Thibaudeau, Rasmussen and Kohl-Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Education: 2/6/04.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Staff: Susan Mielke (786-7422)

Background: In 1999, the Legislature created and has since funded the school nurse corps. The program provides a "corps" of registered nurses to the most needy school districts to provide direct care to students, health education, and training and supervision. Additionally, it provides a school nurse corps supervisor at each educational service district to administer the program, provide consultation and training to school districts, and direct service as time permits. The school nurse corps primarily serves second class school districts.

Second class school districts are districts that have a student enrollment of less than 2,000. First class school districts are districts that have a student enrollment of 2,000 or greater.

The biennial report by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) on the school nurse corps documents the volume and complexity of nursing care needs of students across the state. Even with the combined efforts of school districts and the school nurse corps, all of the health and safety needs of school districts are not completely met.

Current law prohibits state officials from soliciting or accepting contributions to a public office fund beginning 30 days before a regular legislative session to 30 days past the date of final adjournment.

Summary of Bill: OSPI receives $45,000 to fund a grant writer to obtain additional funding for increasing the number of certificated school nurses in first class school districts. School districts with a ratio of more than 1,500 students for every school nurse have priority access to these funds.

The school nurse account is created in the custody of the State Treasurer. Any gift, grant, or endowment received by OSPI for the purpose of this act must be deposited into the account unless the receipt of the funds violates the law limiting the time span for a state official to solicit or accept contributions. SPI or SPI's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. An appropriation is not required for expenditures. Any expenditure must support the purpose of the act.

Appropriation: $45,000 GF-S for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.