HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3047        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 430

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jay D. Livingstone

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act authorizing the establishment of a commission to evaluate student health.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3047        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 430

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act authorizing the establishment of a commission to evaluate student health.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1:  As used in this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meaning:

School means any public or private school, including district, regional, charter, and vocational schools, that offers education to students at any grade between pre-kindergarten and twelfth grade, inclusive. 

School Nurse means a professional registered nurse licensed or eligible for Department of Elementary and licensure as a “school nurse”.

Secondary Education School-based Health Center means a satellite clinic of a hospital or community health center which offers primary care to students enrolled within the center and may bill for services.

SECTION 2:   There is hereby established a Commission of School Nursing to consist of 23 members.  Said commission shall be comprised of three Senators appointed by the Senate President and three Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; Commissioner of Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and two of his or her designees; Commissioner of Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and two of his or her designees; the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health and two of his or her designees; and three members appointed by the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization; and the Governor shall appoint one member from each of the following organizations: Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Massachusetts Municipal Association, Massachusetts Nurses’ Association, and a school parent organization. 

SECTION 3:  The Commission shall recommend standards for staffing of School Nurses at Schools.  The Commission shall determine how many School Nurses are retained by Schools in Massachusetts and if there is a sufficient number of School Nurses for all Schools in Massachusetts.  The Commission shall also report on any issues created by School retaining an insufficient number of School Nurses.  The Commission shall evaluate the use of School-based Health Centers on the health of students.  The Commission shall make recommendations regarding improving student health and make recommendations regarding potential funding sources in addition to Municipal school budgets.        

SECTION 4:  The Commission shall submit a report to the legislature no later than December 1, 2016 describing recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the school nursing staffing and infrastructure, including Department  of Public Health (in collaboration with DESE) oversight and monitoring.