South Carolina General Assembly
109th Session, 1991-1992

Bill 2


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               Senate
Bill Number:                    2
Primary Sponsor:                Nell W. Smith
Committee Number:               04
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Nurse-student ratio
Residing Body:                  Senate
Current Committee:              Finance
Companion Bill Number:          3498
Computer Document Number:       OLDVS/LIBOO/1930
Introduced Date:                Jan 08, 1991
Last History Body:              Senate
Last History Date:              Sep 10, 1990
Last History Type:              Prefiled, referred to
                                Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Nell
                                W. Smith
                                Setzler
                                Giese
                                Martschink
                                Mullinax
                                Peeler
Type of Legislation:            General Bill



History


 Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN
 ----  ------  ------------  ------------------------------  ---
 2     Senate  Apr 22, 1992  Recommitted to Committee        06
 2     Senate  Mar 05, 1992  Committed to Committee          06
                             retaining its place on the
                             Calendar
 2     Senate  Mar 04, 1992  Made Special Order
 2     Senate  May 09, 1991  Committee Report: Favorable     04
                             with amendment
 2     Senate  Jan 08, 1991  Introduced and read first       04
                             time, referred to Committee
 2     Senate  Sep 10, 1990  Prefiled, referred to           04
                             Committee

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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

May 9, 1991

S. 2

Introduced by SENATORS Nell W. Smith, Setzler, Giese, Martschink, Mullinax and Peeler

S. Printed 5/9/91--S.

Read the first time January 8, 1991.

THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 2), to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 59-17-120 so as to require each school district, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking on page 2, line 25 /, county, or district/.

Amend title to conform.

NIKKI G. SETZLER, for Committee.

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

1. Estimated Cost to State-First Year

$0- 2,411,861

2. Estimated Cost to State-Annually

Thereafter $0-18,437,273

The proposed Bill S. 2, amends the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 59-17-120 to require each school district in the State to have by school year 1992-93 a registered school nurse/student ratio of 1:2000;

for school year 1993-94 a ratio of 1:1500;

for school year 1994-95 a ratio of 1:1000;

for school year 1995-96 a ratio of 1:750;

The Bill further provides for a supplemental funding plan for the registered nurse/student ratio requirements.

Currently, all costs for school nurses are paid by school districts with no support from state funds. For the school year 1990-91, there are a total of 225 registered school nurses employed in the school districts with an average salary of $17,567.

Based on an average projected daily membership of 627,000 for school year 1992-93 and projected total of 314 registered nurses required, an additional eighty-nine (89) registered nurses will be needed to achieve the ratio 1:2000. With a projected average registered school nurse's salary for 1992-93 of $19,145, it is estimated the cost to the state will be $2,411,861. The estimated cost at full implementation will be $18,437,273.

SUMMARY OF PROJECTIONS

Projected 1992-93

Average Daily Membership 627,000

Total nurses needed for 1:2000 ratio 314

Current staff 225

New staff needed 89

Projected cost of 89 additional nurses

Projected salary* $1,703,905

Projected Fringe** 452,370

Operating Costs (supplies/mat., admin)*** 255,586

Total Projected Cost $2,411,861

1993-94 ration 1:1500 ----------------- $3,202,805

634,200 ADM--423 total nurses = 109 new nurses

19,911 salary x 109 nurses = 2,170,299 ****

fringe = 1,032,506

1994-95 ratio 1:1000 ------------------- $6,844,966

644,500 ADM--645 total nurses = 222 new nurses

20,708 salary x 222 nurses = 4,597,176

fringe = 2,247,790

1995-96 ration 1:750 ------------------ $8,389,502

652,100 ADM--870 total nurses = 225 new nurses

21,536 salary x 225 nurses = 4,845,600

fringe = 3,543,902

TOTAL PROJECTED AT

FULL IMPLEMENTATION ------------- $18,437,273

* Projected salary is based on 90-91 average of $17,567 plus inflation for a projected 1992-93 salary of $19,145.

** Projected fringe provided by Department of Education.

*** Operating costs are projected at 15% of 1992-93 salary.

**** Salaries 1993-96 are based upon a 4% increase each year.

It is assumed that local contributions will remain constant, so that the State will fund only the cost of adding eighty-nine nurses. It is also assumed that a matching formula will be developed to promote equity among school districts in financial contributions required to meet the certain nurse-student ratio.

In addition to establishing the certain nurse-student ratio for various school years, the Bill requires the State Department of Education to 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 Drug-Free School and Committee Act of 1986 for these school nurse positions in addition to the funding a school district receives from state, county, or district sources.

The supplemental funding plan must be developed and implemented by school year 1992-93. Although the cost of achieving the various nurse-student ratio can be projected, the total cost of implementing the Bill will depend upon the amount of supplemental funding which is identified and secured. Some or all of the cost of the S. 2 to the State would be offset should supplemental funding for school nurses become available.

Prepared By: Approved By:

Les Boles George N. Dorn, Jr.

State Budget Analyst State Budget Division

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 two thousand students by school year 1992-93. The school nurse-student ratio must be reduced after that year as follows:

(1) school year 1993-94: one nurse for every one thousand five hundred students;

(2) school year 1994-95: one nurse for every one thousand students;

(3) school year 1995-96: one nurse for every seven hundred 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 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 1992-93."

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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