The bill amends existing licensure provisions for school nurses in New Mexico, specifically clarifying that these provisions apply to school nurses employed by charter schools. It introduces a new mentorship requirement for level one school nurses, mandating that if a school district or charter school lacks a level three nurse, the department will establish rules for mentorship and evaluation. Additionally, the bill removes the stipulation that a level one school nurse must demonstrate satisfactory progress by the end of the three-year period to be granted a level two license, instead allowing for annual evaluations of competency.

For level two and level three licensure, the bill modifies the criteria for maintaining licensure by emphasizing the need for ongoing professional development and mentorship if a nurse fails to demonstrate essential competency. It also removes previous requirements related to demonstrating nursing leadership competencies for level three licensure, replacing them with a focus on essential competencies as determined by the department. The minimum salary provisions for school nurses are updated to align with those of teachers, removing references to standard contract durations. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 22-10A-8.2, 22-10A-10.1, 22-10A-11.11