Amends TCA Title 49 and Title 68, Chapter 1, Part 12.
Under present law, there is created within the department of health the Tennessee public school nurse program. Until such time as the program employs school nurses in sufficient numbers to adequately provide services, i.e., a ratio of at least one permanent, full time school nurse per 3,000 students, but in no case, less than one permanent, full time school nurse for each county-wide system, to all LEAs, present law requires the executive director to give priority in the assignment of school nurses to those health departments or LEAs that serve counties that are plagued by problems of poverty, unemployment, and underemployment and are medically underserved to the greatest degree.<br /> <br /> This bill changes the above provisions such that the executive director can give such priority until there's a ratio of at least one permanent, full time school nurse per 750 students, instead of the current 3,000 students threshold.<br /> <br /> TISA FUNDING<br /> <br /> As of July 1, 2023, the law will authorize an LEA to use TISA funds to directly employ a public school nurse or to contract with the Tennessee public school nurse program for the provision of school health services. An LEA must use TISA funds to directly employ, or contract for, a public school nurse or must advise the department of education of the LEA's election not to do so. This bill would delete these provisions and provide, instead, the following:<br /> <br /> (1) Subject to appropriation, the department of education must allocate to each LEA sufficient funds for the LEA to employ one full-time public school nurse for every 750 students enrolled in the LEA, or one full-time public school nurse for the LEA, whichever is greater; and<br /> <br /> (2) An LEA must use TISA funds or the funds allocated to the LEA pursuant to subdivision (1) to directly employ a public school nurse or to contract with the Tennessee public school nurse program for the provision of school health services, or advise the department of the LEA's decision not to do so.<br /> <br /> This bill applies to the 2023-2024 school year and each year after. <br />
Under present law, there is created within the department of health the Tennessee public school nurse program. Until such time as the program employs school nurses in sufficient numbers to adequately provide services, i.e., a ratio of at least one permanent, full time school nurse per 3,000 students, but in no case, less than one permanent, full time school nurse for each county-wide system, to all LEAs, present law requires the executive director to give priority in the assignment of school nurses to those health departments or LEAs that serve counties that are plagued by problems of poverty, unemployment, and underemployment and are medically underserved to the greatest degree.<br /> <br /> This bill changes the above provisions such that the executive director can give such priority until there's a ratio of at least one permanent, full time school nurse per 750 students, instead of the current 3,000 students threshold.<br /> <br /> TISA FUNDING<br /> <br /> As of July 1, 2023, the law will authorize an LEA to use TISA funds to directly employ a public school nurse or to contract with the Tennessee public school nurse program for the provision of school health services. An LEA must use TISA funds to directly employ, or contract for, a public school nurse or must advise the department of education of the LEA's election not to do so. This bill would delete these provisions and provide, instead, the following:<br /> <br /> (1) Subject to appropriation, the department of education must allocate to each LEA sufficient funds for the LEA to employ one full-time public school nurse for every 750 students enrolled in the LEA, or one full-time public school nurse for the LEA, whichever is greater; and<br /> <br /> (2) An LEA must use TISA funds or the funds allocated to the LEA pursuant to subdivision (1) to directly employ a public school nurse or to contract with the Tennessee public school nurse program for the provision of school health services, or advise the department of the LEA's decision not to do so.<br /> <br /> This bill applies to the 2023-2024 school year and each year after. <br />
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