This bill amends West Virginia Code §18-5-22 to mandate that each county school board must employ at least one full-time school nurse for every public school. The previous requirement, which stipulated that a school nurse be employed for every 1,500 kindergarten through seventh-grade pupils, has been removed. Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for the state board to establish rules for employing additional nurses to adequately serve severely handicapped pupils and allows for state funding to support school health services that exceed the mandated staffing levels.

The bill also clarifies the qualifications for school nurses, stating that they must be registered professional nurses licensed by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. It outlines the responsibilities of school nurses in performing specialized health procedures and emphasizes the need for training and retraining of school employees involved in these procedures. Furthermore, it establishes a council of school nurses to provide recommendations and develop training standards, ensuring that the health care needs of students are met effectively.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5-22