ASSEMBLY, No. 6028

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 15, 2021

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  P. CHRISTOPHER TULLY

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman  LISA SWAIN

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Alters procedure for reimbursing nurses who provide nonpublic school nursing services in certain circumstances.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act concerning the provisions of nursing services to nonpublic school students and supplementing P.L.1991, c.226 (C.18A:40-23 et seq.).

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, the State aid provided to a school district pursuant to section 9 of P.L.1991, c.226 (C.18A:40-31) shall be distributed by the school district directly to the individual providing nursing services for the nonpublic school, if the following conditions are met:

     (1)   the nonpublic school provides to the school district all required documentation attesting to the individual’s status as a registered nurse licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing;

     (2)   the nonpublic school provides to the school district documentation of the actual hours the individual provided nursing services at the nonpublic school; and

     (3)   the nonpublic school, on a form developed by the Department of Education, submits to the school district:

     (a)   an attestation that all documentation provided to the school district pursuant to this section is valid; and

     (b)   an agreement to assume any liability that may arise if the individual is determined not to be a registered nurse licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing during the school year.

     If the conditions set forth pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection are not met, then the school district shall not distribute State aid directly to the individual providing nursing services for the nonpublic school as permitted under this section.

     b.    (1)  The provisions of this section shall not apply to a school district that entered into an agreement for the provision of nursing services for nonpublic schools for the 2020-2021 school year prior to the effective date of this act.  The provisions of this section shall apply to a school district that renews an agreement, or enters into a new agreement, for the provision of nursing services for nonpublic schools for the 2021-2022 school year, and any subsequent school year, after the effective date of this act.

     (2)   A nonpublic school shall notify a school district of its intention to meet all of the conditions set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection a. of this section prior to renewing or entering into a new agreement with the school district for the provision of nursing services for the nonpublic school pursuant to the provisions of this section.  The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed as requiring a nonpublic school to meet all of the conditions set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection a. of this section, even if it notifies the school district of its intention to meet the conditions prior to renewing or entering into a new agreement with the school district.

     c.     The provisions of this section shall not be construed as prohibiting a school district from using funds provided to the school district pursuant to section 9 of P.L.1991, c.226 (C.18A:40-31) for administrative purposes.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill permits, under certain circumstances, a school district to provide State aid directly to an individual that is providing nursing services for a nonpublic school.

     Under P.L.1991, c.226 (C.18A:40-23 et seq.), a board of education is required to provide certain basic nursing services for nonpublic school students enrolled at a nonpublic school located within the district, and the board is permitted to provide certain other nursing services to the nonpublic school students.  Under this bill, the State aid provided to a school district for the provisions of nonpublic school nursing services will be distributed by the school district directly to the individual providing nursing services to the nonpublic school students if the following conditions are met:

     (1)   the nonpublic school provides to the school district all required documentation attesting to the individual’s status as a registered nurse licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing;

     (2)   the nonpublic school provides to the school district documentation of the actual hours the individual provided nursing services at the nonpublic school; and

     (3)   the nonpublic school, on a form developed by the Department of Education, submits to the school district an attestation that all documentation provided to the school district is valid and an agreement to assume any liability that may arise if the individual is determined not to be a registered nurse licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing during the school year.

     The bill also provides that the provisions of the bill will not apply to a school district that entered into an agreement for the provision of nursing services for nonpublic schools for the 2020-2021 school year prior to the effective date of the bill.  The provisions of the bill will apply to a school district that renews an agreement, or enters into a new agreement, for the provision of nursing services for nonpublic schools for the 2021-2022 school year and any subsequent school year, after the effective date of the bill.

     Finally, the bill requires a nonpublic school, prior to renewing or entering a new agreement with a school district for the provision of nursing services for the nonpublic school, to notify the school district that it intends to avail itself of the provisions of the bill by meeting the three conditions set forth in the bill regarding documentation and attestation.