SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2217

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 1, 1997

      The Senate Education Committee reports favorably Senate

Bill No. 2217 with committee amendments.

      As amended, this bill establishes the Task Force on Diabetes and the Schools for the purpose of developing guidelines on the most appropriate and effective means of providing care for students with diabetes in the school setting. The guidelines would be presented to the State Board of Education no later than six months after the task force's organizational meeting. After review by the State board, the Department of Education would be required to disseminate the guidelines to all school districts.

      The task force would consist of the following 12 members: one member to be appointed by the President of the Senate and one member to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, both of whom shall be a parent of a student with diabetes attending the public schools; one representative from a non-public school to be appointed by the Governor; the Commissioner of Education, or his designee; one school administrator selected by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators; one school board member selected by the New Jersey School Boards Association; one public school teacher selected by the New Jersey Education Association; one principal or supervisor selected by the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; a pediatrician selected by the Academy of Pediatrics-New Jersey; two certified school nurses, one selected by the New Jersey State Nurses Association and one selected by the New Jersey State School Nurses Association; and one representative from the American Diabetes Association, New Jersey Affiliate.

      The task force's guidelines include establishing a standardized, yet flexible system of procedures to implement an individualized treatment plan for a diabetic student; basic procedures to ensure that a school works in conjunction with a student's parents and medical care providers; and procedures to ensure that a student's diabetes care is integrated into the usual school routine to the greatest extent possible. Staff and related support services of the task force will be provided by the Department of Education.

      The bill provides a $5,000 appropriation from the General Fund for the expenses of the task force.

      Admendments were adopted to provide that a principal or supervisor would be appointed by the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, and to add a pediatrician and two certified school nurses to the task force.