|
REFERENCE TITLE: school health program; appropriation. |
|
State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session 2021
|
|
HB 2644 |
|
|
|
Introduced by Representative Shah
|
AN ACT
amending Title 15, chapter 1, article 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-160.01; appropriating monies; relating to school health and safety requirements.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Heading change
The article heading of title 15, chapter 1, article 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, is changed from "SAFETY REQUIREMENTS" to "HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS".
Sec. 2. Title 15, chapter 1, article 5, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-160.01, to read:
15-160.01. School health program; purpose; program proposals; requirements; annual report; program termination; definitions
A. The school health program is established within the department of education to promote and enhance healthy and effective learning environments for all students by supporting the costs of placing school nurses and school psychologists on school campuses. A school district or charter school may apply to participate in the school health program as provided in this section for up to three fiscal years by submitting, on or before April 15, a program proposal to the department of education. A school district or charter school that receives approval for a three-year program under this section may annually submit a modified spending plan for its approved program.
B. A school district or charter school that submits a program proposal for supporting the costs of placing school nurses and school psychologists on a school campus shall include all of the following in the proposal:
1. A detailed description of the school health needs of the charter school or school district.
2. A plan for implementing a school health program that includes all of the following:
(a) A detailed description of the relationship between the school nurse or school psychologist, or both, and local community resources.
(b) A plan for using school nurse or school psychologist services, or both, in the school.
(c) A detailed description of the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the school health plan.
(d) Policies on confidentiality under the school health plan.
(e) Policies on notifying parents and other family members of issues or concerns as identified in the school health plan.
(f) A detailed description of the school's, school district's or charter school's referral procedures to the appropriate community entities and state agencies.
3. If the school district or charter school has already participated in the school health program, information on the success, compliance and implementation of the most recent approved program proposal.
C. The department of education shall review and administer the school health program proposals in cooperation with school administrators, principals, teachers, parents, medical professionals and community mental health professionals. The department of education shall use relevant school-level academic, social and emotional statistics to assess the needs of each program proposal and shall visit school districts and charter schools that submit program proposals to verify the information contained in the program proposals.
D. Subject to the review and approval of the state board of education, The department of education shall distribute monies to the school districts and charter schools that are in compliance with school health program requirements and whose program proposals have been approved by the state board of education.
E. The department of education shall review school health program proposals submitted by school districts and charter schools for participation in the program and shall select school sites that are eligible to receive funding based on school health needs pursuant to this section. The department of education may prioritize program proposals for school nurses and school psychologists grants to school districts and charter schools that have agreements to share the cost of the school nurses and school psychologists.
F. The department of education shall evaluate the effectiveness of all approved school health program proposals submitted pursuant to subsection B of this section and report on the program activities and participants. The department shall submit this report to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the governor on or before November 1 of each year and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state. The evaluation and report shall include survey results and data from participating schools on the impact of participating in the school health program. The department shall establish data guidelines for school health program participants to follow in reporting pursuant to this subsection.
G. Any appropriations that are made to the department of education for approved program proposals within the school health program are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. All monies that are not used for an approved program proposal within the school health program during the fiscal year for which the monies were appropriated revert to the department of education for distribution to the program in the following fiscal year.
H. Monies received by a school district or charter school under the school health program shall be spent to implement the approved program proposals.
I. The program established by this section ends on July 1, 2031 pursuant to section 41-3102. The auditor general shall include the school health program as part of its ongoing sunset review of agencies and programs.
J. For the purposes of this section:
1. "School nurse" means a registered nurse who holds a valid school nurse certificate issued by the Arizona state board of nursing or through a nationally accredited commission or board.
2. "School psychologist" means a professional educator who holds a valid school psychologist certificate issued by the department of education.
Sec. 3. Appropriation; department of education; school health program
The sum of $______________ is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2021‑2022 to the department of education for the purposes of administering the school health program established by section 15‑160.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.