SENATE BILL 320

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

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 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 certified nurse is employed in every public school in New Mexico. The nurse in every school program shall be phased in over a six-year period as follows:

                (1) effective with the 2007-2008 school year, one-fifth of New Mexico's public schools shall employ a nurse;

                (2) effective with the 2008-2009 school year, two-fifths of New Mexico's public schools shall employ a nurse;

                (3) effective with the 2009-2010 school year, three-fifths of New Mexico's public schools shall employ a nurse;

                (4) effective with the 2010-2011 school year, four-fifths of New Mexico's public schools shall employ a nurse; and

                (5) effective with the 2011-2012 school year, every New Mexico public school shall employ a nurse.

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

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Three million two hundred thousand dollars ($3,200,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2008 for the purpose of implementing the nurse in every school program. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall revert to the general fund.

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