|
6-22-09
Legislative Update –81st Legislature Regular Session
TSNO worked hard on the behalf of the school children of Texas and school nurses during this legislative session. Opportunities to promote school nursing were created by testimony at Senate Education Committee, testimony at House Public Education Committee, TSNO information and resources provided to legislators and their staff, weekly conference calls with the Nursing Legislative Agenda Coalition (NLAC), email alerts to members, and verbal communication throughout the session to Legislators and Jim Willmann JD (TNA Lobbyist) on bills pertinent to school nursing. Mr. Willmann is an expert on the legislative process who offered advice and counsel throughout the session for the process of getting a bill passed, impacting the wording of a bill, and representing TSNO in Austin at the Capitol.
Unfortunately, Senate Bill 158 by Ellis and the companion bill, House Bill 151 by Coleman was left pending in committee and did not pass. It was a controversial bill, with opposition from the Texas Association of School Boards, and therefore did not pass. This is an important bill for parents and TSNO will continue to support providing parents the important information they need to plan for their children at school.
TSNO provided verbal and written information about the anaphylaxis and emergency medication bills that were introduced this session. Cathy Harris provided expert nursing information on these bills and although they did not pass, the final wording reflected increased safety for the school children of Texas with severe life threatening allergies.
One bill that did pass was SB 283 by Nelson, Lucio, and West which has to do with the membership and activities of local school health advisory councils (SHAC). It was signed into law 6-19-2009 by the Governor. SB 283 requires that a parent of a student enrolled in the district serve as chair or co-chair of the SHAC, four meetings a year and a written report to the board of trustees.
A list of the bills that of interest to TSNO is below.
Please note that the first line of information "Last Action" is the final step that the bill reached.
Texas Legislature Online - Bill Lists
Date report generated: Monday, June 22, 2009 1:33 PM
Legislature: 81st Legislature Regular Session
HB 151 Author: Coleman | et al.
Last Action 03/24/2009 H Left pending in committee
Caption Version:
Caption: Relating to a notification requirement if a nurse is not assigned to a public school campus.
House Committee: Public Education (In)
Senate Committee:
HB 952 Author: Dutton
Last Action 02/23/2009 H Referred to Public Education
Caption Version:
Caption: Relating to duty-free lunch periods for public school nurses.
House Committee: Public Education (In)
Senate Committee:
HB 1410 Author: Ortiz, Jr. | et al.
Last Action 05/08/2009 H Placed on General State Calendar
Caption Version:
Caption: Relating to student information required to be provided at the time of enrollment in public schools.
House Committee: Public Education (Out)
Senate Committee:
HB 2611 Author: Patrick
Last Action 03/12/2009 H Referred to Public Education
Caption Version:
Caption: Relating to establishing an interim committee to study the provision of dental services to certain public
school students.
House Committee: Public Education (In)
Senate Committee:
Comment: dental services to certain public school students
HB 2711 Author: Coleman
Last Action 03/17/2009 H Referred to Public Education
Caption Version:
Caption: Relating to the assignment of school nurses at public school campuses.
House Committee: Public Education (In)
Senate Committee:
Comment: school nurse ratio
HB 4407 Author: Taylor | et al. Sponsor: Jackson, Mike
Last Action 05/26/2009 S Not again placed on intent calendar
Caption Version:
Caption: Relating to rules concerning administration and maintenance of anaphylaxis medicine on public school
campuses.
House Committee: Public Education (Out)
Senate Committee: Education (Out)
HB 4633 Author: Lucio III
Last Action 03/26/2009 H Referred to Public Education
Caption Version:
Caption: Relating to the care of elementary and secondary school students with food or other life-threatening
allergies.
House Committee: Public Education (In)
Senate Committee:
SB 158 Author: Ellis
Last Action 05/18/2009 H Left pending in committee
Caption Version:
Caption: Relating to a notification requirement if a nurse is not assigned to a public school campus.
House Committee: Public Education (In)
Senate Committee: Education (Out)
Comment: Parent notification (companion bill to HB 151)
SB 283 Author: Nelson | et al. Sponsor: Shelton
Last Action 06/19/2009 E Signed by the Governor
Caption Version:
Caption: Relating to the membership and activities of local school health advisory councils and to parental
involvement in human sexuality instruction in public schools.
House Committee: Public Education (Out)
Senate Committee: Education (Out)
Comment: relating to SHAC membership and activities
Respectfully submitted,
Dottie Lindner RN, MSN |
