Bill Text: PA HB1446 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishing and providing for a task force on school health services; and providing for duties and responsibilities.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 22-5)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-05 - Referred to EDUCATION [HB1446 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB1446-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 1775
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1446 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY PHILLIPS, BELFANTI, FAIRCHILD, CREIGHTON, DALEY, GEIST, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HESS, HUTCHINSON, M. KELLER, KILLION, METZGAR, MILLER, MURT, PICKETT, RAPP, REICHLEY, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, STABACK, STERN, J. TAYLOR, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 5, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 5, 2009
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," establishing and providing for a task
force on school health services; and providing for duties and
responsibilities.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1424. School Health Services Task Force.--(a) The
General Assembly finds that:
(1) School health personnel deliver valuable services that
address the physical, mental, emotional and social health of
their students.
(2) The ways and means by which those health services are
provided vary across school districts and regions across this
Commonwealth.
(3) While student health issues are increasing in
complexity, earlier this decade the number of school nurse
certificates issued by the Department of Education showed a
trend to decline, and State subsidies for school district health
services have remained relatively flat over the past five years.
(4) Studies project a shortage of registered nurses in
Pennsylvania and nationally, school districts face numerous
challenges in providing health services to students.
(b) (1) There is established a task force on school health
services. The task force shall consist of ten members composed
of the following individuals:
(i) Two members of the Senate, one each to be chosen by the
President pro tempore and the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(ii) Two members of the House of Representatives, one each
chosen by the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the
House of Representatives.
(iii) One member chosen by the Secretary of Education from
among persons recommended by the Department of Education.
(iv) One representative from each of the following:
(A) An organization representing school nurses.
(B) An organization representing school board directors.
(C) An organization representing school administrators.
(D) An organization representing school business officials.
(E) An organization representing school principals.
(2) The members shall be appointed within thirty days of the
effective date of this section. Names shall be furnished to the
Secretary of Education. A majority of the members of the task
force shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Official action by the task force shall require the approval of
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a majority of the members of the task force. The task force
shall elect one of its members to serve as chairperson. If there
is a vacancy for any cause, a replacement shall be appointed in
the same way with the same qualifications as set forth in this
section and shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the
term. Members of the task force shall not be entitled to
compensation or reimbursement and shall serve as volunteers on
the task force.
(3) The task force shall convene no later than sixty days
after the effective date of this section. The task force is
authorized to hold hearings, take testimony and make its
investigations at such places in this Commonwealth as it deems
necessary. The task force shall meet at such times and places
specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the
members of the task force. In undertaking its investigations
regarding school health services, the task force shall do all of
the following:
(i) Adopt rules necessary for the operation of the task
force.
(ii) Meet and conduct hearings with representatives of the
public school districts of this Commonwealth, including, but not
limited to, school administrators and school health providers,
school board members, representatives of the Department of
Education and the Department of Health and other health
officials and medical professionals.
(iii) Identify, evaluate and make recommendations on topics
involved with school health care, including, but not limited to,
the following:
(A) The number of school nurse certifications issued
annually by the Department of Education over the last ten years.
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(B) The number of waivers and emergency certification
permits issued for school nurses annually by the Department of
Education over the last ten years, both across this Commonwealth
and by region.
(C) The number of other school health personnel employed
over the last ten years by districts under Article XIV.
(D) The cost of delivering school health services mandated
by law and as otherwise provided by the district.
(E) Availability and coordination of Federal and State
funding for school nurse services.
(F) Best practices to improve school health services in this
Commonwealth's public schools.
(G) Alternative health care services, programs and staffing
options that could assist school districts in offering a
flexible and comprehensive delivery of school health services in
this Commonwealth's public schools.
(iv) Make and transmit a report of its activities, findings
and recommendations, including possible legislation, to the
chairperson of the Public Health and Welfare Committee of the
Senate, the chairperson of the Education Committee of the
Senate, the chairperson of the Health and Human Services
Committee of the House of Representatives and the chairperson of
the Education Committee of the House of Representatives within
one year of the task force's first meeting.
(c) The Department of Education and the Department of Health
shall provide staff support to the task force.
(d) The task force shall cease to exist upon the receipt by
all four committee chairpersons of the task force's report as
described in subsection (b)(3)(iii)(D), unless it is
reestablished by action of the General Assembly.
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(e) As used in this section--
"School Nurse" shall have the same meaning as under section
1401.
"Task force" means the task force on school health services
established under this section.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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