Assembly Bill No. 1–Assemblywoman Parnell

 

Prefiled January 11, 2001

 

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Referred to Committee on Education

 

SUMMARY—Revises provisions regarding school nurses. (BDR 34‑135)

 

FISCAL NOTE:                     Effect on Local Government: No.

                                    Effect on the State: No.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to schools; revises provisions relating to the qualifications and duties of certain school nurses; revises provisions relating to nursing services provided to certain pupils; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1.  NRS 391.207 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2    391.207  1.  A school district shall not employ a person to serve as a

1-3  school nurse unless he holds an endorsement to serve as a school nurse

1-4  issued pursuant to regulations adopted by the commission.

1-5    2.  The provision of nursing services in a school district must be

1-6  under the direction and supervision of a chief administrative nurse who:

1-7    (a) Satisfies the requirements set forth in NRS 632.240; and

1-8    (b) Holds an endorsement to serve as a school nurse issued pursuant

1-9  to regulations adopted by the commission.

1-10    Sec. 2.  NRS 391.208 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-11    391.208  A school nurse shall, for each school at which he is

1-12  [employed:] responsible for providing nursing services:

1-13    1.  Ensure that each pupil enrolled in the school has been immunized in

1-14  accordance with, is exempt from or has otherwise complied with, the

1-15  requirements set forth in NRS 392.435 to 392.446, inclusive.

1-16    2.  Assess and evaluate the general health and physical development of

1-17  the pupils enrolled in the school to identify those pupils who have physical

1-18  or mental conditions that impede their ability to learn.

1-19    3.  Report the results of an evaluation conducted pursuant to subsection

1-20  2 to:

1-21    (a) A parent or guardian of the pupil;


2-1    (b) Each administrator and teacher directly involved with the education

2-2  of the pupil; and

2-3    (c) Other professional personnel within the school district who need the

2-4  information to assist the pupil with his health or education.

2-5    4.  Design and carry out a plan of nursing care for a pupil with special

2-6  needs which incorporates any plan specified by the pupil’s physician or

2-7  provider of health care, as defined in NRS 629.031, and which is

2-8  approved by the pupil’s parent or guardian. The nursing services provided

2-9  pursuant to a plan of nursing care must be performed in compliance with

2-10  chapter 632 of NRS.

2-11    5.  When appropriate, refer a pupil and his parent or guardian to other

2-12  sources in the community to obtain services necessary for the health of the

2-13  pupil.

2-14    6.  Interpret medical and nursing information that relates to a pupil’s

2-15  individual educational plan or individualized accommodation plan and

2-16  make recommendations to:

2-17    (a) Professional personnel directly involved with that pupil; and

2-18    (b) The parents or guardian of that pupil.

2-19    Sec. 3.  NRS 392.420 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-20    392.420  1.  In each school at which he is [employed,] responsible for

2-21  providing nursing services, a school nurse shall plan for and carry out, or

2-22  supervise qualified health personnel in carrying out, a separate and careful

2-23  observation and examination of every child who is regularly enrolled in a

2-24  grade specified by the board of trustees or superintendent of schools of the

2-25  school district to determine whether the child has scoliosis, any visual or

2-26  auditory problem , or any gross physical defect. The grades in which the

2-27  observations and examinations must be carried out are as follows:

2-28    (a) For visual and auditory problems, in at least two grades of the

2-29  elementary schools, one grade of the middle or junior high schools , and

2-30  one grade of the high schools; and

2-31    (b) For scoliosis, in at least one grade of schools below the high

2-32  schools.

2-33  Any person other than a school nurse who performs an observation or

2-34  examination pursuant to this subsection must be trained by a school nurse

2-35  to conduct the observation or examination.

2-36    2.  If any child is attending school in a grade above one of the specified

2-37  grades and has not previously received such an observation and

2-38  examination, he must be included in the current schedule for observation

2-39  and examination. Any child who is newly enrolled in the district must be

2-40  examined for any medical condition for which children in a lower grade are

2-41  examined.

2-42    3.  A special examination for a possible visual or auditory problem

2-43  must be provided for any child who:

2-44    (a) Is enrolled in a special program;

2-45    (b) Is repeating a grade;

2-46    (c) Has failed an examination for a visual or auditory problem during

2-47  the previous school year; or

2-48    (d) Shows in any other way that he may have such a problem.


3-1    4.  The school authorities shall notify the parents or guardian of any

3-2  child who is found or believed to have a visual or auditory problem,

3-3  scoliosis [,] or any gross physical defect , and shall recommend that

3-4  appropriate medical attention be secured to correct it.

3-5    5.  In any school district in which state, county or district public health

3-6  services are available or conveniently obtainable, those services may be

3-7  used to meet the responsibilities assigned under the provisions of this

3-8  section. The board of trustees of the school district may employ qualified

3-9  personnel to perform them. Any nursing services provided by such

3-10  qualified personnel must be performed in compliance with chapter 632 of

3-11  NRS.

3-12    6.  Any child must be exempted from the examination if his parents or

3-13  guardian filed with the teacher a written statement objecting to the

3-14  examination.

3-15    Sec. 4.  NRS 632.240 is hereby amended to read as follows:

3-16    632.240  [1.]  The provision of nursing services in any system for the

3-17  delivery of health care must be under the direction and supervision of a

3-18  chief administrative nurse who is a registered nurse.

3-19    [2.  The provisions of this section do not apply to a county school

3-20  district whose enrollment is fewer than 35,000 pupils.]

3-21    Sec. 5.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.

 

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