BILL NUMBER:  S1200

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring school
nurses in school buildings in certain school districts


 PURPOSE :

The bill amends the education law, requiring certain school districts
to provide for at least one school nurse in each school building.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 of the bill amends Section 902 of the education law by
adding a new subdivision 4. This new subdivision requires each school
district in the cities of Yonkers, Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester and
the department of education of New York city to provide for at least
one school nurse in each school building. The section also provides
for additional staffing to be determined in regulation by the
commissioner of Education in consultation with at least one
professional nursing association.
Section 2 is the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :
              

While many schools districts throughout New York State provide health
care services to children in each school by staffing registered
professional nurses, there are some districts that choose to have
these nurses travel between school buildings or choose not to have a
registered professional nurse on staff at all. Large city school
districts, especially, are often faced with these staffing dilemmas.
Having professional staff available can prevent potentially
unfortunate outcomes for students that are faced with a medical
situation. Children in our state's largest school districts need the
same services from qualified medical professionals as children in
other districts. In fact, rates for asthma and other chronic medical
conditions are higher among students in urban school districts. New
York State law should recognize this important need. This bill will
provide each school within the largest school districts in our state
with access to a qualified medical service professional for both
chronic and acute health issues for its students.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
01/09/08 REFERRED TO EDUCATION

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.