S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
880
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 9, 2017
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Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, JAFFEE, ABBATE, RIVERA, HOOPER, RAIA --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CURRAN, McDONOUGH, PERRY -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to compensation for
national board certification for school nurses
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 20 to
read as follows:
ARTICLE 20
STATE BOARD FOR CERTIFICATION OF SCHOOL NURSE GRANT PROGRAM
SECTION 950. STATE BOARD FOR NATIONAL CERTIFICATION OF SCHOOL NURSE
GRANT PROGRAM.
§ 950. STATE BOARD FOR NATIONAL CERTIFICATION OF SCHOOL NURSE GRANT
PROGRAM. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF LAW, THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH THE STATE BOARD FOR NATIONAL CERTIFICATION
OF SCHOOL NURSE GRANT PROGRAM, TO BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO DEFRAY
ANY COSTS INCURRED BY AN ELIGIBLE REGISTERED SCHOOL NURSE, AS THAT TERM
IS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION AND HIS OR HER SPONSOR-
ING SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHERE SUCH ELIGIBLE NURSE SEEKS NATIONAL BOARD
CERTIFICATION FROM THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR CERTIFICATION OF SCHOOL NURS-
ES.
2. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "ELIGIBLE SCHOOL NURSE" SHALL MEAN A NEW
YORK STATE REGISTERED SCHOOL NURSE WHO:
(A) IS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED IN A NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL; AND
(B) HOLDS A VALID NEW YORK STATE LICENSE AS A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL
NURSE PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-NINE HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER.
3. UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION AND SUBJECT TO THE FILING
REQUIREMENT DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION, A GRANT IN AN
AMOUNT OF UP TO THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE FROM THE
STATE BOARD FOR NATIONAL CERTIFICATION OF SCHOOL NURSE GRANT PROGRAM TO
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02976-01-7
A. 880 2
EACH ELIGIBLE SCHOOL NURSE TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF CERTIFICATION BY
THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR CERTIFICATION OF SCHOOL NURSES. SUCH SUM MAY
INCLUDE THE DIRECT REIMBURSEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT TO THE ELIGIBLE NURS-
ES' SPONSORING SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM THE TOTAL GRANT AWARD TO COVER THE
COST OF HIRING A SUBSTITUTE SCHOOL NURSE FOR UP TO THREE DAYS OR THE
DURATION OF SUCH ELIGIBLE NURSE'S APPROVED LEAVE, WHICHEVER IS LESS.
4. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROMULGATING ANY REGU-
LATIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, INCLUD-
ING:
(A) ESTABLISHING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AN APPLICATION FORM AND FILING
DEADLINE REQUIREMENTS TO BE UTILIZED BY ELIGIBLE SCHOOL NURSES APPLYING
FOR A GRANT FROM THE STATE BOARD FOR NATIONAL CERTIFICATION OF SCHOOL
NURSE GRANT PROGRAM;
(B) ESTABLISHING A MECHANISM FOR PROCESSING AND APPROVING APPLICATIONS
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT;
(C) ESTABLISHING A MECHANISM TO ALLOCATE GRANT AWARDS TO APPROVED
ELIGIBLE SCHOOL NURSES; AND
(D) ESTABLISHING A MECHANISM TO REIMBURSE SPONSORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS
FOR UP TO THREE DAYS OF APPROVED LEAVE AS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION THREE
OF THIS SECTION.
5. AN ELIGIBLE SCHOOL NURSE FOR WHOM THE STATE PAYS A PARTICIPATION
FEE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR REPAYMENT OF THE GRANT TO THE DEPARTMENT IF SUCH
ELIGIBLE SCHOOL NURSE:
(A) DOES NOT COMPLETE THE PROCESS; OR
(B) COMPLETES THE PROCESS, BUT DOES NOT WORK IN A NEW YORK STATE
PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR AT LEAST ONE FULL YEAR AFTER ACHIEVING NATIONAL BOARD
CERTIFICATION.
6. REPAYMENT OF THE GRANT IS NOT REQUIRED:
(A) IF THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS IS NOT COMPLETED OR IF THE ELIGIBLE
SCHOOL NURSE FAILS TO WORK FOR ONE FULL YEAR AFTER COMPLETION DUE TO HIS
OR HER DEATH OR DISABILITY OR SOME OTHER EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES AS
MAY BE RECOGNIZED BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS; OR
(B) IF THE ELIGIBLE SCHOOL NURSE COMPLETES THE PROCESS BUT DOES NOT
ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.