S 1054 Session 110 (1993-1994)
S 1054 General Bill, By Giese
A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
59-17-120 so as to require each school district in this State to have a
certain nurse-student ratio for various school years and to provide for a
supplemental funding plan for the nurse-student ratio requirements.
01/19/94 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-6
01/19/94 Senate Referred to Committee on Education SJ-6
A BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY
ADDING SECTION 59-17-120 SO AS TO REQUIRE EACH SCHOOL
DISTRICT IN THIS STATE TO HAVE A CERTAIN NURSE-STUDENT
RATIO FOR VARIOUS SCHOOL YEARS AND TO PROVIDE FOR A
SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING PLAN FOR THE NURSE-STUDENT RATIO
REQUIREMENTS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The General Assembly finds that registered school nurses are
integral professionals in the school system contributing to the process of
education by identifying and referring to appropriate health providers
students whose health statuses have a direct influence upon their
educational achievements. For many children in South Carolina, school
nurses are the only contact they have with the health care system. School
nurses with their experience and knowledge of growth and behavioral
patterns of children are in a unique position in the school setting to assist
children in acquiring knowledge, in developing attitudes and values
conducive to healthful living, and in meeting the children's needs resulting
from disease, accidents, congenital defects, or psychological or social
maladjustments. Health services provided as part of school programs for
children are direct, constructive, and effective contributions to building a
healthful and dynamic society.
SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 59-17-120. (A) Each school district in this State shall
attain a registered school nurse-student ratio of at least one nurse for every
one thousand students in grades 1-5 by school year 1994-95. The school
nurse-student ratio must be reduced in school year 1995-96 to one nurse
for every seven hundred and fifty students.
(B) The number of students in each district in a particular school year
for purposes of this section must be based on the one hundred thirty-five
day count of the average daily membership during the previous school year.
(C) The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations to
develop a supplemental funding plan to maximize supplemental funding
sources including, but not limited to, Medicaid, Chapter One, Public Law
94-142, Public Law 99-457, and the Drug-Free School and Committee Act
of 1986, for the school nurse positions required by this section in addition
to the funding a school district receives from state, county, or district
sources. These supplemental funding sources shall provide supplemental
funding to the school districts which require additional funding in order to
comply with the provisions of this section. The board shall work in
conjunction with local school districts, the State Health and Human
Services Finance Commission, the South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control, the School Nurse Council of the South
Carolina Nurses Association, the Joint Legislative Committee on Health
Care Planning and Oversight, the Joint Legislative Committee on Families
and Children, and any other interested group or agency to develop this
supplemental funding plan. The supplemental funding plan must be
developed and implemented by school year 1994-95."
SECTION 3. Effective July 1, 1995, the term "Health and Human
Services Finanace Commission" as used in Section 59-17-120 of the
1976 Code, as added by Section 2 of this act, must be construed to mean
the Department of Health and Human Services.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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