An Act To Permit Nurse Practitioners To Perform the Functions of School Physicians 1
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0197
Committee Amendment CA_A_H75 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6402-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 158, L.D. 197, Bill, "An Act To Permit 
Nurse Practitioners To Perform the Functions of School Physicians" 
1 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Improve Health Services to Schools' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6402-A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 258, §2, is amended to 
read: 
§6402-A. School health advi~or 
Each school board shall appoint one or more sefieel. physicians or family or pediatric 
nurse practitioners to act as school health advisor. 
1. Duties. The school physician health advisor shall advise the administrative unit 
on school health issues, policies and practices and may also perform any other health-
related functions assigned by the board. 
2. Other functions. A school physician health advisor may perform other medical 
and health-related duties assigned by the school board~ which may include all or some of 
the following: 
A. Examine and diagnose students referred by teachers and other school employees 
to protect against the outbreak of contagious diseases in the schools; 
B. Examine students for participation in physical education and athletic activities; 
C. Advise and serve as medical consultant to the school nurse; or 
D. Examine school employees and property if the physician school health advisor 
believes it is necessary to protect the health of students. 
3. 
Prohibition. 
A school physician health advisor may not treat any student 
examined under this subchapter unless the physician school health advisor is also the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
· .*tt. 
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l3 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A" to H.P. 158, L.D. 197 
student's personal physician health care provider. A school health advisor that advises a 
school board pursuant to subsection 1 or performs other functions under subsection 2 may 
not act outside the scope of practice of the physician or nurse practitioner who functions 
as a school health advisor as established by law or rule of the applicable licensing board. 
4. Appointment. Appointment shall be i§. on a yearly basis.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the comrnittee. This amendment renames 
school physicians, including family or pediatric nurse practitioners, school health 
advisors and clarifies that school health advisors may not act outside the scope of practice 
applicable to the school health advisor. 
The amendment removes from the bill a 
provision on local health officer duties. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/22113 Mac. 
LD 197 
LR 1142(02) 
An Act To Permit Nurse Practitioners To Perform the Functions of School Physicians 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 11' (Ii -75 ) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential future biennium savings - Local School Administrative Units 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Allowing a family or pediatric nurse practitioner to serve as a health advisor in a school may result in savings to local 
school administrative units if the cost of having a nurse practitioner serve as a school's health care provider is lower 
than the cost of having a physician serve in that same capacity_ 
LRl142(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1