MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare; Appropriations

By: Representative Dedeaux

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "SCHOOL NURSE INTERVENTION PROGRAM ASSISTANCE FUND," WHICH SHALL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHALL ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR USE IN DEFRAYING THE COSTS OF IMPLEMENTING OR MAINTAINING A SCHOOL NURSE INTERVENTION PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY APPLY FOR A GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF NURSES EMPLOYED BY THE DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST MATCH THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT REQUESTED WITH AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF FUNDS; TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF GRANT FUNDS A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY RECEIVE DURING A FISCAL YEAR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, the following words shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Department" means the State Department of Health.

(b) "Fund" means the School Nurse Intervention Program Assistance Fund.

(2) There is created a special fund in the State Treasury to be designated the "School Nurse Intervention Program Assistance Fund," which shall be administered by the department. The department shall establish and implement a program for the purpose of providing grants from the fund to public school districts for use in defraying the costs of implementing a school nurse intervention program or maintaining a school nurse intervention program, or both, as provided in Section 41-79-5. The fund shall consist of funds appropriated annually by the Legislature from the Health Care Expendable Fund established under Section 43-13-407. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into the fund.

(3) A public school district desiring a grant under this section must submit an application to the department. A school district may apply for a grant regardless of the number of nurses employed by the school district at the time it submits an application to the department. A school district applying for a grant must match the amount of the grant requested with an equal amount of funds. A school district may not use minimum education program funds to satisfy its match requirement. The maximum aggregate amount of grant funds a school district may receive during a fiscal year is Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00).

(4) The department shall have all powers necessary to implement and administer the program established under this section, and the department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.