SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 589

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: FEBRUARY 10, 1997

      The Senate Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 589 with committee amendments.

      Current law provides that, in place of a physical examination by the school physician, the school may accept the report of such an examination by any licensed physician. As amended by committee, this bill would also allow a school to accept a medical report based upon an examination by a nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist certified by the New Jersey Board of Nursing working in collaboration with a physician licensed to practice medicine and surgery within the State.        The committee amended the bill to require that the nurse work in collaboration with a physician, and that if any deviations in health status are detected, the nurse refer the pupil to that physician.

      As reported, this bill is identical to A-1609 (1R).