Report Title:
School health system
Description:
Establishes a comprehensive school health system that promotes the healthy development of all students and a comprehensive school health demonstration program. Convenes a joint planning committee to coordinate a phased implementation of the demonstration program.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
157 |
|
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001 |
||
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
||
|
|
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to school health.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Children require access to health care to maintain good health. When they become sick or are injured, most children have access to a health care professional. However, too many children in the United States, particularly those from poor families, are at risk for multiple health problems. Indigent children may experience two to three times the usual incidence of certain medical conditions, many of which are preventable. The most common health problems affecting children today include injuries, chronic illnesses such as asthma, and mental health problems. In addition, children are now engaging more frequently in risky behaviors that may lead to health problems, including smoking, binge drinking, and unsafe sex.
The number of children at risk for poor health has increased as children have lost access to care because their parents have lost their health insurance. Currently, about sixteen per cent, or eleven million, of America's children are uninsured. Even for children who do have health insurance, barriers to health care exist. For example, parents may be unable to leave work to take their child to see a doctor. And in many low-income communities, health care facilities are few and often inadequate.
The legislature finds that placing community agencies' services on school sites will facilitate school and community efforts to adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach to preventing health problems. A design that meets the needs of all students will require a range of school and community programs and services to reduce the number of interventions. Establishing interprogram connections will promote effective performance within and among systems of care, prevention, and early intervention.
The purpose of this Act is to establish:
(1) A comprehensive school health system that promotes the healthy development of all students;
(2) A comprehensive school health demonstration program; and
(3) A joint planning committee to coordinate a phased implementation of the comprehensive school health demonstration program.
SECTION 2. The departments of education and health shall jointly establish a comprehensive school health system. The system shall:
(1) Ensure a full integration of enabling programs and services with components designed to:
(A) Facilitate development and learning; and
(B) Govern and manage resources;
(2) Integrate school-owned resources;
(3) Enhance programs by integrating school and community resources, including increasing access to community programs and services by integrating as many as feasible with the school to fill gaps in programs and services; and
(4) Utilize funds from, but not limited to the following sources:
(A) Compensatory education;
(B) Special education;
(C) General funds; and
(D) Community resources, including agencies, grants, donations, and volunteers.
For purposes of this section, "enabling programs and services" means clusters of programmatic activity that address barriers to learning and enhance healthy development by:
(1) Enhancing classroom-based efforts to enable learning;
(2) Providing prescribed student and family assistance;
(3) Responding to and preventing crises;
(4) Supporting transitions;
(5) Increasing home involvement in schooling; and
(6) Supporting outreach for greater community involvement and support, including recruitment of volunteers.
SECTION 3. (a) The director of health, with the assistance of the superintendent of education, shall establish and operate as a demonstration project, not fewer than one comprehensive school health program in each of the seven departmental school districts established in section 13-1(d), Hawaii Revised Statutes.
(b) Prior to the establishment and operation of a comprehensive school health demonstration program, the principal of the school and the school and community-based management council, in consultation with at least one health care professional, shall establish policy decisions related to the operation of the demonstration program, including but not limited to:
(1) Consent of parent required;
(2) Ability to pay;
(3) Confidentiality of records;
(4) Financial responsibility;
(5) Limitation of actions; and
(6) Personnel.
(c) The comprehensive school health demonstration program shall be student-centered and include the following components:
(1) Health education;
(2) Physical education;
(3) Health services;
(4) Nutrition services;
(5) Counseling, psychological, and social services;
(6) Healthy school environment;
(7) Health promotion for staff; and
(8) Parent and community involvement.
(d) The comprehensive school health demonstration program shall be designed using the comprehensive school health system established in section 2 of this Act.
SECTION 4. There is established a joint department of health and department of education planning committee to plan and coordinate a phased implementation of a comprehensive school health system and comprehensive school health demonstration program.
The director of health and superintendent of education shall designate members of their respective departments to sit on the joint planning committee to carry out the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. (a) The joint planning committee shall report its plan and coordination for a phased implementation of a comprehensive school health system and comprehensive school health demonstration program to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2002.
(b) The director of health shall report to the legislature on the experience of each comprehensive school health demonstration program not fewer than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2003 and 2004. The report shall include:
(1) The policies of each comprehensive school health demonstration program;
(2) The number of students served and the types of health services provided;
(3) The operating cost, including income collected through fees, monetary donations, private grants, and in-kind services;
(4) Quantifiable changes in high-risk behaviors among students receiving services;
(5) Recommended changes to improve the demonstration program; and
(6) Any other information that the departments of health and education may determine to be necessary to assist the legislature in evaluating the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and intangible merits of the demonstration program.
SECTION 6. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002 for comprehensive school health demonstration programs.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 7. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002 for comprehensive school health demonstration programs.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that:
(1) Sections 6 and 7 shall take effect on July 1, 2001; and
(2) This Act shall be repealed on June 30, 2004.
INTRODUCED BY: