2021 -- S 0087 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFIED NURSE-TEACHER

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Murray, Bell, DiPalma, Cano, Euer, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-21-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-21 entitled "Health and

Safety of Pupils" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-21-8. Certified nurse-teacher.

     (a) Each Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, each school system shall

employ certified nurse-teacher personnel certified by the state department of elementary and

secondary education; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to those school districts

which are currently allowed to share certified nurse-teacher personnel by the department of

elementary and secondary education. The school health program as defined in § 16-21-7 shall only

be staffed by certified nurse-teacher personnel.

     (b) Any person who, as of August 1, 2021, is employed in a Rhode Island school district

pursuant to an all grades registered school nurse certificate, but who does not meet the requirements

of subsection (a) of this section, shall be deemed grandfathered into that school district and may

continue to be employed pursuant to that all grades registered school nurse certificate within that

same school district. If a person so employed seeks employment in another Rhode Island school

district as a school nurse-teacher after August 1, 2021, that person shall be subject to the provisions

of subsection (a) of this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on August 1, 2021.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFIED NURSE-TEACHER

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     This act would require that only certified nurse-teachers may be employed as school nurses

in elementary and secondary schools as of August 1, 2021. Persons employed in a school district

pursuant to an all grades registered school nurse certificate as of August 1, 2021, but who are not

certified nurse-teachers, could continue to be employed without the certified nurse-teacher

certificate, so long as they remain employed in that same district.

     This act would take effect on August 1, 2021.

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