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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.3899 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:20010405 Primary Sponsor:Lourie All Sponsors:Lourie, J.E. Smith, McLeod, Harvin, J. Brown, R. Brown, Clyburn, J. Hines, Hosey, Lloyd, Rodgers, Snow and Whipper Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\bbm\10152htc01.doc Residing Body:House Current Committee:Ways and Means Committee 30 HWM Subject:School nurses, each public school district to have full-time nurse on premises; Schools and School Districts, Medical History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 20020117 Referred to Committee 30 HWM House 20020117 Recalled from Committee 21 HEPW House 20010405 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW referred to Committee Versions of This Bill
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 59-1-460 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING WITH SCHOOL YEAR 2002-2003, A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL EMPLOY AT LEAST ONE FULL-TIME SCHOOL NURSE FOR EACH SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY STUDENTS ENROLLED IN DISTRICT SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE THAT THESE NURSES MUST BE ASSIGNED TO DISTRICT SCHOOLS IN A MANNER THAT MAXIMIZES THEIR EFFICIENT USE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANNER IN WHICH FUNDING FOR THIS REQUIREMENT IS PROVIDED.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The General Assembly finds that one goal of public education is to assist all students in reaching their full academic potential. In this regard, school nurses:
(1) are instrumental in early detection of health problems that can interfere with learning or lead to more serious or disabling health conditions;
(2) prevent disease by teaching and encouraging healthy lifestyles and habits that have lifelong implications for children and their families;
(3) provide valuable health services including administering medications and care management necessary for those students who have chronic or episodic health conditions and disabilities;
(4) care for students who incur injuries at school including injuries that require medical attention;
(5) assist families and students in accessing health care and community health services; and
(6) provide direct health services and professional advice to teachers and staff members regarding health problems and concerns. The General Assembly therefore believes that each public school in this State should have a full-time school nurse.
SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-1-460. Beginning with school year 2002-2003, a school district shall employ at least one full-time school nurse for each seven hundred fifty students enrolled in district schools. The district shall assign nurses employed pursuant to this requirement in a manner that maximizes their efficient use. The General Assembly in the annual general appropriations act shall provide state funding for fifty percent of the cost of this requirement, but this funding applies only for the costs incurred in employing those additional school nurses necessary to meet the minimum requirement of this section. This state funding must be distributed by the Department of Education to the local school districts and local school districts shall provide the remainder of the required funding."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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