The bill establishes a tiered salary system for school nurses in New Mexico, aligning their minimum salaries with those of teachers. It introduces a new program unit for the national board certification of school nurses, which will be calculated based on the number of certified nurses employed by a school district or charter school. The bill also amends existing law to include this new program unit in the calculation of total program costs for educational funding, ensuring that certified school nurses are recognized and compensated appropriately.

Additionally, the bill outlines a structured licensure process for school nurses, creating three levels of licensure: Level One, Level Two, and Level Three. Each level has specific requirements, including mentorship, competency evaluations, and minimum salary standards that correspond to teacher salaries at the same levels. The legislation aims to enhance the professional development of school nurses while ensuring that they meet the necessary qualifications and competencies to provide quality healthcare in schools.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 22-8-18