SB476: relative to the certification of school nurses.

SB 476-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2016 SESSION

16-2780

04/10

SENATE BILL 476-FN

AN ACT relative to the certification of school nurses.

SPONSORS: Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Kelly, Dist 10; Rep. B. French, Merr. 6; Rep. J. Frazer, Merr. 13; Rep. Grenier, Sull. 7; Rep. MacKay, Merr. 14; Rep. Heath, Hills. 14

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the state board of education to certify school nurses.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

16-2780

04/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen

AN ACT relative to the certification of school nurses.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 State Board of Education; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 21-N:9, II(s) to read as follows:

(s) Certification standards for educational personnel, and educator certification fees for granting credentials to educational personnel, including teachers, paraprofessionals, superintendents, assistant superintendents, special education administrators, business administrators, principals, vocational directors, coordinators of comprehensive health education and services, directors of pupil personnel services, guidance directors, guidance counselors, school psychologists, associate school psychologists, speech-language specialists, social workers, health educators, physical education teachers, consumer and family science teachers, elementary teachers, specialists in assessment of intellectual functioning, media supervisors, media generalists, and master teachers as authorized by RSA 186:8 and RSA 186:11, X, professional credentials including beginning educator credentials, experienced educator credentials, and intern licenses, school nurses appointed pursuant to RSA 200:29, and other classifications of educators, administrators, specialists, and paraprofessionals necessary to address educational needs as determined by the state board upon the recommendation of the professional standards board pursuant to RSA 186:60.

2 School Health Services; School Nurses. Amend RSA 200:29 to read as follows:

200:29 School Nurse. Each school board may appoint a school nurse to function in the school health program, and provide said nurse with proper facilities and equipment. A school nurse shall be a registered professional nurse currently licensed in New Hampshire and certified by the state board of education.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO 16-2780

12/31/15

SB 476-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to the certification of school nurses.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of Education states this bill, as introduced, will increase state restricted revenue by $61,100 in FY 2017, $6,110 in FY 2018, $6,110 in FY 2019, and $48,880 in FY 2020 and may increase state restricted expenditures in FY 2017 and each year thereafter. There will be no impact on county and local revenues or expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department of Education states this bill requires school nurses to be certified with the Department pursuant to RSA 21-9, II(s). The Department assumes each public school would have one school nurse apply for certification, which would need to be renewed every three years. The Department assumes there would be 470 school nurses, with a $130 triennial fee, and a 10% turnover rate each year after the initial year of the required certification:

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

Initial Certification

470

47

47

47

Certification Renewals

-

-

-

329

Total Certification/Renewals

470

47

47

376

Fee Amount

$130

$130

$130

$130

Total Revenue

$61,100

$6,110

$6,110

$48,880

All revenue collected is assumed to be restricted revenue to the Department of Education Bureau of Credentialing. The Department states it does not anticipate this bill resulting in additional net expenditures unless it is later determined it might need additional staffing beyond its current complement to process applications and certifications.