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 allows for the state board to establish rules for employing additional nurses to adequately serve severely handicapped pupils and provides 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, including performing specialized health procedures and conducting needs assessments, and establishes a council of school nurses to provide recommendations and training standards. The State Board of Education is tasked with coordinating training and retraining for school employees every two years, ensuring that they are equipped to handle specialized health care needs in schools.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5-22