Establishes nonpublic school nursing services pilot program to provide funding to county consortium of nonpublic schools for nursing services.
What changed between versions
The definition of 'county consortium' was changed from 'a group of nonpublic schools' to 'a nonprofit entity representing a group of nonpublic schools,' giving the consortium formal legal standing as an organization rather than just an informal grouping.
Funding mechanism changed significantly: instead of the Department of Education disbursing funds directly to the consortium, school district boards of education will now disburse the nonpublic nursing services aid to the consortium. The language also changed from 'would otherwise be paid' to 'is paid,' clarifying these are existing district funds being redirected rather than new state appropriations.
A new refund requirement was added: if the consortium's actual expenditures for nursing services are less than the aid it received, it must refund the unexpended amount after the completion of any school year during the pilot period, but no later than December 1 of the following school year.
The requirement for the consortium to provide assurances of capability was made conditional by adding 'at the commissioner's request,' meaning assurances are no longer automatically required but only when the commissioner asks for them.
The entire oversight committee provision (former section g) was deleted. This committee would have consisted of five members: three appointed on the Governor's recommendation, one on the Senate President's recommendation, and one on the Speaker's recommendation. Its removal eliminates a layer of state-level monitoring over the consortium's operations.
Audit responsibility shifted from the commissioner to the consortium. Previously the commissioner would contract with an independent auditor and transmit results; now the consortium itself must contract for the audit and transmit copies to the Governor and Legislature.
The commissioner's role in establishing and supervising the pilot was reduced. The language changed from 'The Commissioner of Education shall establish, supervise, and fund' to 'There shall be established... permitting the establishment or utilization of a county consortium.' The commissioner no longer directly establishes or funds the program.
The two-year report requirement was simplified from a full report containing implementation information plus a recommendation, to simply submitting a recommendation on whether to continue and expand the program Statewide.
Rulemaking authority was narrowed by adding 'as may be necessary' before 'to effectuate the provisions of this act,' limiting the State Board of Education's rulemaking scope to only what is strictly needed.
