THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

943

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to school-based health services.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program is designed to improve access to, and the quality of, school-based health services available to Hawaii's public school students by providing direct services and coordinating care with primary and tertiary care providers.  Further, the program screens, identifies, and meets needs, such as oral and mental health services, by seeking and obtaining private funds.  The Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program partnership with the Nancy Atmospera-Walch school of nursing at the University of Hawaii at Manoa supports the department of education in achieving student, school, and system success by providing school health nursing services to public schools, allowing department of education staff to focus on their mission to educate Hawaii's children.

     In the last three years, the Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program has provided direct on-site services in over one hundred seventy-one schools and indirect support to all department of education schools, complexes, and complex areas.  To have a presence in one hundred seventy-one elementary, middle, and high schools, the Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program placed fifteen advanced practice registered nurses in each complex area; forty-two registered nurses in each complex area; and school health support staff in one hundred seventy-one schools.  The school health support staff comprise of community health workers, medical assistants, and certified nurse assistants.  Under the supervision of registered nurses, school health support staff ensure the conduct of on-site school telehealth visits, implement nursing orders, facilitate health screening efforts, and provide health support to the campus.

     The legislature envisions a future with one nurse on site at every school but recognizes achieving that goal requires a substantial increase in fiscal and human resources.  The school health support staff personnel are an efficient cost-effective approach to increasing access to the available nursing services assisting the department of education to meet the goal of student and school academic success by ensuring students are healthy and ready to learn.  During the fall 2022 semester, school health support staff accounted for 49,627 health room visit and entered immunization data for 31,220 students and documentation of 6,477 students with serious health conditions into school records.  School health support staff assisted with management of 5,779 new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and facilitated the administration of 3,403 COVID-19 tests through coordination with department of health testing initiatives.  As a result of school health support staff efforts, sixty-four per cent of students seen in the health room returned to class.  With school health support staff, school attendance and seat time improves as more students have their health needs addressed at school.

     The school health support staff were initially created to support the department of education's administrative requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic response.  The legislature recognizes COVID-19 exacerbated and illuminated ongoing, underlying social and emergency response issues that need to be addressed, including the preparedness of every school to quickly identify and respond to infectious disease outbreaks.  The volume of care provided by school health support staff shows a significant, ongoing need.

     The legislature commends the development of school health support staff and commits to the ongoing support of children enrolled in department of education schools by ensuring students are healthy and ready to learn.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of education to fund school health support staff to continue a critical role and function of the Hawaii keiki:  healthy and ready to learn program.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the funding of school health support staff within the department of education.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

School Health Support Staff; Department of Education; Hawaii Keiki:  Healthy and Ready to Learn; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to fund school health support staff to sustain the Hawaii Keiki:  Healthy and Ready to Learn Program.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.