This bill establishes a three-year pilot program in eligible counties to provide funding for nursing services in nonpublic schools through a county consortium. An eligible county is defined as a first-class county with a population exceeding 950,000. The program allows boards of education to disburse funds to the county consortium equivalent to the state aid allocated for nonpublic nursing services. The Commissioner of Education is tasked with notifying nonpublic schools about the consortium's responsibilities and ensuring compliance with nursing service requirements.
Additionally, nonpublic schools must inform the commissioner and relevant parties of their intent to participate in the consortium by June 1 of the preceding school year. The consortium is required to provide assurances of its capability to fulfill nursing service responsibilities and must contract with an independent entity for annual audits of the program's implementation. After two years, the commissioner will report to the Governor and Legislature on the program's effectiveness and potential for statewide expansion.