H 5054 General Bill, By S. Rivers

Similar(H 4805)
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 59-10-215 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR,
 SCHOOL NURSES MUST HOLD CURRENT LICENSURE TO PRACTICE AS REGISTERED NURSES OR
 LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES IN THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESPONSIBILITIES
 AND DUTIES OF SCHOOL NURSES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-10-210, RELATING TO
 SCHOOL NURSE FUNDING, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES AND TO PROVIDE SCHOOL
 NURSES IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

   03/01/18  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 46)
   03/01/18  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works (House Journal-page 46)

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-10-215 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH THE 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR, SCHOOL NURSES MUST HOLD CURRENT LICENSURE TO PRACTICE AS REGISTERED NURSES OR LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES IN THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF SCHOOL NURSES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 59-10-210, RELATING TO SCHOOL NURSE FUNDING, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES AND TO PROVIDE SCHOOL NURSES IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Article 2, Chapter 10, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 59-10-215.    Beginning with the 2018-2019 School Year, each school nurse must hold a current license issued by the State Board of Nursing to practice as a professional registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. The duties and responsibilities of a school nurse are to be prescribed by the principal in accordance with the laws and regulations governing nursing in South Carolina. If a school nurse works in more than one school, his duties and responsibilities are to be prescribed by the district superintendent or his designee in accordance with the laws and regulations governing nursing in this State."

SECTION    2.    Section 59-10-210 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 102 of 2005, is amended to read:

"Section 59-10-210.    Beginning with the 2007-08 2018-2019 School Year, the General Assembly, annually in the General Appropriations Act, shall appropriate funds to the Department of Education to provide licensed professional registered nurses or licensed practical nurses for elementary public schools, middle schools, and high schools. The State Department of Education shall make these funds available through a grant program and shall distribute the funds to the local school districts on a per school basis."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect July 1, 2018.