SENATE BILL 71

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION; REQUIRING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NURSE IN EVERY SCHOOL PROGRAM; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] NURSE IN EVERY SCHOOL PROGRAM--IMPLEMENTATION--EXCEPTION.--

          A. The public education department shall adopt rules for the implementation of the "nurse in every school program". Except as provided in Subsection B of this section, the program shall ensure that a department-certified nurse is employed in every public school in New Mexico. The nurse in every school program shall be phased in over a nine-year period as follows, with priority given to those school districts that have the fewest number of nurses employed:

                (1) effective with the 2004-2005 school year, one-ninth of New Mexico's schools shall have a nurse in every school;

                (2) effective with the 2005-2006 school year, two-ninths of New Mexico's schools shall have a nurse in every school;

                (3) effective with the 2006-2007 school year, three-ninths of New Mexico's schools shall have a nurse in every school;

                (4) effective with the 2007-2008 school year, four-ninths of New Mexico's schools shall have a nurse in every school;

                (5) effective with the 2008-2009 school year, five-ninths of New Mexico schools shall have a nurse in every school;

                (6) effective with the 2009-2010 school year, six-ninths of New Mexico schools shall have a nurse in every school;

                (7) effective with the 2010-2011 school year, six-ninths of New Mexico schools shall have a nurse in every school;

                (8) effective with the 2011-2012 school year, seven-ninths of New Mexico schools shall have a nurse in every school;

                (9) effective with the 2012-2013 school year, eight-ninths of New Mexico schools shall have a nurse in every school; and

                (10) effective with the 2013-2014 school year, a nurse shall be employed in every New Mexico school.

          B. The department may provide for exceptions to the nurse in every school program requirements for small rural school districts."

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--One million dollars ($1,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2005 for the purpose of implementing the nurse in every school program. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005 shall revert to the general fund.

- 3 -