AR HB1443

Requires new school buildings or major renovations that house a nursing office to include a school nursing center beginning in the 2017-2019 funding cycle for the Academic Facilities Partnership Program.

School nursing centers must meet minimum standards including a private office with door, heat and air conditioning, telephone, sink with hot and cold water, handicap-accessible bathroom, locking filing cabinet, double-locking medicine cabinet, refrigerator, sharps container, personal protective equipment, two cots, computer with Internet access, electronic health records system compliant with FERPA and HIPAA, first aid equipment, storage cabinets, and desk with office supplies.

Exempts school nursing center construction projects from the project minimum cost requirement under Arkansas Code § 6-20-2507(b)(1)(C) and allows nursing centers to be located in portable classrooms.

Establishes the Public School Nurse Facility and Equipment Grant Pilot Program administered by the Division of Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation to provide state financial assistance to eligible school districts for nursing facilities and equipment.

Pilot program eligibility criteria include school district size, current nursing facilities and equipment, and district resources; the pilot program expires July 1, 2017.