HB1242
To Amend The Mechanism By Which School Nurses Are Compensated.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill, House Bill 1242, proposes changes to how public school nurses are compensated in Arkansas. It amends existing law to explicitly define school nurses for compensation purposes. The bill mandates that school district boards establish a minimum base salary for school nurses that is at least equal to the minimum base salary required for classroom teachers. Furthermore, it requires the adoption of a school nurse salary schedule that mirrors the factors and steps used for classroom teacher salary schedules. For the 2027-2028 school year and beyond, these new salary requirements must be in place. The bill outlines specific salary percentages for nurses based on their educational attainment (bachelor's degree or not) and licensure (registered nurse or licensed practical nurse) relative to classroom teachers with similar qualifications. It also includes a provision to protect current school nurses from having their salaries lowered if they are already earning above the new mandated schedule. Finally, the bill directs legislative education committees to consider the costs of funding school nurses during the biennial adequacy review process.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be licensed school nurses employed by Arkansas public school districts. By establishing a minimum base salary and a salary schedule comparable to classroom teachers, the bill aims to improve the compensation and potentially the retention of these essential school personnel. School districts, while potentially facing increased salary expenditures, may benefit from a more competitive and stable nursing workforce, leading to improved student health services. Additionally, students would indirectly benefit from having adequately compensated and potentially more experienced school nurses providing essential health care and support services within their schools.
Who Might Suffer?
The primary entities that could be negatively impacted are the public school districts in Arkansas, as they would be responsible for implementing the new salary requirements for school nurses. This could lead to increased operational costs for districts, particularly if they need to raise the salaries of existing nurses or hire new ones to meet the mandated minimums and salary schedule. The extent of this impact would depend on the current compensation levels of school nurses within each district and the district's existing budget. While the bill directs legislative committees to consider funding, the actual allocation and availability of funds to offset these increased costs are not definitively outlined within this text, potentially placing a financial burden on local school budgets.