EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0856*
SENATE BILL 856
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CF 2lr2545
By: Senator Eckardt
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2022
Assigned to: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Schools – Health Services – School Nurses 2
FOR the purpose of requiring each county board of education to provide a certain nurse at 3
each public school; and generally relating to public schools and health services. 4
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 5
Article – Education 6
Section 7–401 7
Annotated Code of Maryland 8
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 9
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 10
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 11
Article – Education 12
7–401. 13
(a) With the assistance of the county health department, each county board shall 14
provide: 15
(1) Adequate school health services; 16
(2) Instruction in health education, including the importance of physical 17
activity in maintaining good health; [and] 18
(3) A healthful school environment; AND 19
(4) A FULL–TIME REGISTERED NURS E IN EACH SCHOOL . 20
2 SENATE BILL 856
(b) The Department of Education and the Maryland Department of Health jointly 1
shall: 2
(1) Develop public standards and guidelines for school health programs; 3
and 4
(2) Offer assistance to the county boards and county health departments 5
in their implementation. 6
(c) (1) (i) Each county board shall designate a school health services 7
program coordinator. 8
(ii) A county board may authorize the county health department to 9
designate the school health services program coordinator. 10
(2) The school health services program coordinator shall: 11
(i) Implement State and local health policies in the public schools; 12
(ii) Ensure that public schools adhere to local health services 13
guidelines; and 14
(iii) Communicate State and local health policies to the parents and 15
guardians of public school students. 16
(3) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the 17
county board shall grant the school health services program coordinator the authority to 18
carry out the provisions of this subsection. 19
(ii) The county board shall consult with a county superintendent 20
before any change in the hiring or termination of personnel in connection with a school 21
health services program. 22
(4) The Department of Education shall conduct at least two meetings 23
annually with all school health services program coordinators in the State. 24
(d) On or before December 1, 2015, and every 5 years thereafter, the Department 25
shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to 26
the General Assembly a summary of the information reported to the State Superintendent 27
during the COMAR certification process. 28
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 29
1, 2022. 30