Section 16-22-16

Registered nurses required in public schools.

The State Board of Education shall require the employment of registered nurses in each local school system, contingent on funding in the Education Trust Fund annual budget act, for each of the following fiscal years and ratios and major fractions thereof:

(1) 1999-2000 - A minimum of one nurse for every school system.

(2) 2000-2001 - A minimum of one nurse for every 7,000 pupils.

(3) 2001-2002 - A minimum of one nurse for every 6,500 pupils.

(4) 2002-2003 - A minimum of one nurse for every 6,000 pupils.

(5) 2003-2004 - A minimum of one nurse for every 5,500 pupils.

(6) 2004-2005 - A minimum of one nurse for every 5,000 pupils.

(7) 2005-2006 - A minimum of one nurse for every 4,500 pupils.

(8) 2006-2007 - A minimum of one nurse for every 4,000 pupils.

(9) 2007-2008 - A minimum of one nurse for every 3,500 pupils.

(10) 2008-2009 - A minimum of one nurse for every 3,000 pupils.

(11) 2009-2010 - A minimum of one nurse for every 2,500 pupils.

(12) 2010-2011 - A minimum of one nurse for every 2,000 pupils.

Thereafter, a minimum of one registered nurse shall be employed for each 2,000 pupils and major fraction thereof.

(b) Determining the number of pupils for the purpose of allotting school nurses shall be based on pupils in average daily membership during the first two scholastic months of the preceding scholastic year.

(c) Nurses employed exclusively from federal funds shall not be considered in the ratios as required by this section. Nurses employed with local funds are to be included in the ratios as required by this section.

(d) The State Board of Education shall employ a School Nurse Consultant, who shall be a registered nurse, to provide supervision of programs statewide and implement school nursing programs as established by the State Board of Education.

(e) There shall be a minimum statewide salary schedule for school nurses which shall be included in the annual budget act for the public schools.

(f) The amounts necessary to meet the requirements of this section shall be appropriated in the annual budget act for the public schools.

(g) This section is cumulative and shall be construed in pari materia with other laws, but to the effect that this section specifically conflicts with other laws in direct conflict with this section, then those laws or parts of laws are hereby repealed.

(Act 98-672, p. 1477, §§1, 3.)