TITLE: Relating to the qualifications of persons employed as nurses by public school districts.

SUMMARY: Relating to the qualifications of persons employed as nurses by public school districts.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the qualifications of persons employed as nurses by public school districts. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 21.003, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a person may not be employed by a school district as an audiologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, physician, [nurse] school psychologist, associate school psychologist, licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, social worker, or speech language pathologist unless the person is licensed by the state agency that licenses that profession and may perform specific services within those professions for a school district only if the person holds the appropriate credential from the appropriate state agency. As long as a person employed by a district before September 1, 2011, to perform marriage and family therapy, as defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code, is employed by the same district, the person is not required to hold a license as a marriage and family therapist to perform marriage and family therapy with that district. (c) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a person may not be employed by a school district as a nurse unless the person holds a bachelor of science degree in nursing and is licensed by the Texas Board of Nursing as a registered nurse. A person employed by a district as a nurse before September 1, 2015, who maintains a license issued by the Texas Board of Nursing is not required to fulfill the requirements of this subsection in order to remain employed as a nurse by that district or to be employed as a nurse by another district. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.