S.B. 943 - School-Based Health Services

• Appropriates general revenue funds to the Department of Education for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to support school health support staff (the specific dollar amount is blank in the bill text).

• Sustains the Hawaii Keiki: Healthy and Ready to Learn Program, which provides school-based health services including nursing care, health screenings, and coordination with primary and tertiary care providers across 171 public schools.

• School health support staff (community health workers, medical assistants, and certified nurse assistants) work under registered nurse supervision to conduct telehealth visits, implement nursing orders, facilitate health screenings, and support student health needs on campuses.

• Documents that during fall 2022, school health support staff managed nearly 50,000 health room visits, entered immunization data for over 31,000 students, assisted with 5,779 COVID-19 cases, and facilitated 3,403 COVID-19 tests, with 64% of students returning to class after treatment.

• Takes effect July 1, 2023.