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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce |
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Studies nursing advisory committee on school nurse staffing. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "advisory committee" means |
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the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies nursing advisory |
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committee established under Section 104.0155, Health and Safety |
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Code. |
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(b) The advisory committee shall conduct a study to: |
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(1) research school nurse salary rates and determine |
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what constitutes a competitive salary rate; |
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(2) determine whether it is appropriate to pay |
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full-time school nurses in a manner and an amount comparable to the |
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salary of a full-time teacher; |
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(3) evaluate the number of school campuses in this |
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state operating without a school nurse present during instructional |
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hours; |
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(4) assess whether it is possible to recruit school |
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nurses directly from institutions of higher education; |
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(5) assess the benefits of ensuring a school nurse is |
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available during all instructional hours; |
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(6) estimate the potential costs to school districts |
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of requiring each district to employ at least one full-time school |
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nurse at each district campus; |
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(7) recommend strategies to include school nurses in |
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other campus operations, including behavioral threat assessment |
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teams and school health advisory councils; |
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(8) consider current practices adopted by school |
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districts in this state and recommend best practices to enhance |
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school nurse recruitment and retention; and |
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(9) recommend any other means of providing |
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administrative support to school nurses. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2026, the advisory committee |
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shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, |
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the speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the |
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legislature a written report containing the results of the study |
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and any recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |