Bill Text: GA SB403 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Education; school health nurse programs; revise provisions
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-07-01 - Effective Date [SB403 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SB403-Introduced.html
12 SB403/AP
Senate
Bill 403
By:
Senators Millar of the 40th, Stoner of the 6th, Ligon, Jr. of the 3rd, Shafer of
the 48th and Carter of the 42nd
AS
PASSED
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to elementary and secondary education, so as to revise provisions relating to
school health nurse programs; to include school nurses in state formula funding
based on full-time equivalent student counts; to provide for grants for supplies
for school health nurse programs; to provide for a state-level coordinator for
school health nurse programs; to provide for related matters; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary
and secondary education, is amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section
20-2-186, relating to allocation of funds for local systems to pay beginning
salaries of superintendents, secretaries, accountants, nurses, and certain other
personnel, as follows:
"(a)
Funds provided under this article shall include the following for local systems
to pay, on a 12 month basis, the beginning salaries of superintendents,
assistant superintendents, and principals and the salaries of secretaries,
accountants, and nurses, subject to appropriation by the General
Assembly:
(1)
Each local system shall earn, for any number of full-time equivalent students
equal to or under 5,000, funds sufficient to pay the beginning salaries of a
superintendent and two assistant superintendents and the salaries of a secretary
and an accountant; and
(2)
For numbers of full-time equivalent students over 5,000 and less than 10,001,
funds sufficient to pay the beginning salaries of a superintendent and four
assistant superintendents and the salaries of a secretary and an accountant;
and
(3)
For numbers of full-time equivalent students over 10,000, funds sufficient to
pay the beginning salaries of a superintendent and eight assistant
superintendents and the salaries of a secretary and an accountant;
and
(4)
Each local system shall earn funds for the 2000-2001 school year sufficient to
pay the beginning salary of a principal for each school in the local school
system with a principal of record for the preceding year. Thereafter, each local
school system shall earn funds sufficient to pay the beginning salary of a
principal for each school in the local school system that reported a principal
on the October certified personnel information report; provided, however, that
any school which operates as a combination school, which is defined as any of
the elementary grades, kindergarten through grade five, contiguous with one or
more of the middle grades, grades six through eight; or as a combination school
of any of the middle grades, grades six through eight, contiguous with one or
more of the elementary grades or contiguous with one or more of the high school
grades, grades nine through 12; or as a combination school of any of the high
school grades, contiguous with one or more of the middle grades, shall earn
funds sufficient to pay the beginning salary of a principal for each of the
elementary, middle, or high school combinations. Beginning with the 2001-2002
school year, funds cannot be earned for more than one principal's salary for
schools on the same campus sharing facilities unless the schools operate as a
combination school as defined in this paragraph with separate facility codes
issued by the Department of Education. A local school system shall earn funds in
the midterm adjustment sufficient to pay the beginning salary of a principal for
a new school, if not otherwise earning the funds, when the school has reported
full-time equivalent program counts in the October count, has an approved new
school facility code issued by the department, and has reported a principal on
the October certified personnel information report under the new facility code.
It is further provided that funds for the salary of a principal shall not be
earned under this paragraph for an evening school or alternative school;
and
(5)
Each local system shall earn
funds
sufficient to pay for nursing services
funding for
one nurse for every 750 full-time equivalent students at the elementary school
level and one nurse for every 1,500 full-time equivalent students at the middle
and high school levels. Such funding shall have a ratio of one registered
professional nurse to five licensed practical nurses. Such funding shall be
based on a contract length of 180 days and shall be sufficient to pay 50 percent
of the average salary and benefits, as determined by the Department of
Education, for a registered professional nurse or for a licensed practical
nurse; provided, however, that such amount shall be phased in so that, in Fiscal
Year 2013, such amount shall be 40 percent and, in Fiscal Year 2014, such amount
shall be 45 percent. Local school systems shall not be required to provide any
local matching funds for school nurses to receive funds pursuant to this
paragraph. Local school systems that do not meet the minimum full-time
equivalent student counts set out in this paragraph shall receive a base amount
of funding. Each local school system shall expend 100 percent of the funds
earned pursuant to this paragraph for salaries and benefits for school
nurses."
SECTION
2.
Said
chapter is further amended in Part 5 of Article 5, relating to program weights
and funding requirements, by adding a new Code section to read as
follows:
"20-2-190.
Subject
to appropriations by the General Assembly, the State Board of Education shall
provide grants to local school systems for the purpose of purchasing supplies
for school health nurse programs, as required pursuant to Code Section
20-2-771.2. The grant funds shall be distributed to local school systems on a
full-time equivalent basis. The state board shall establish regulations as to
the manner in which such grant funds may be
used."
SECTION
3.
Said
chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-771.2, relating to
school health nurse programs, as follows:
"20-2-771.2.
(a)
Each local board of education shall establish policies and procedures regarding
a school health nurse program. Such school health nurse programs shall be
staffed by licensed health care professionals. Each local board of education may
contract or consult with health professionals knowledgeable in children's health
issues to establish the standards, policies, and procedures of a school health
nurse program. Such standards, policies, and procedures shall be in accordance
with the restrictions set forth in Code Section 20-2-773.
(b)
Subject to appropriations, there may be established within the Department of
Education a school health nurse program coordinator, whose responsibilities may
include:
(1)
Assisting local school systems in establishing and implementing the school
health nurse programs required by subsection (a) of this Code section, including
development of guidelines for utilizing volunteers and retirees to supplement
the programs;
(2)
Assisting in standardizing the reporting of any health information from local
school systems;
(3)
Assisting local school systems in identifying and obtaining available additional
funding and support for school health nurse programs from federal and other
sources, including, but not limited to, Medicaid funds and partnerships with
local hospitals or other health care facilities; and
(4)
Other related duties to support school health nurse
programs."
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.