Legislative Update to MASHN members, 2024 session
Posted 17 days ago by Elizabeth Elliott
There were many bills introduced and good discussions in Annapolis this year! This update outlines three bills of interest that have passed.
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Most exciting is the Janet L Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (SB441 / HB545). School nurses are now added (we'd previously been excluded) to this great program. Significant funds were provided to support this bill specifically for school nurses. Registered Nurses need to have been a public-school nurse for 2 years and work for the county school system or the local health department, have attended nursing school in Maryland and meet income qualifications. It goes into effect 7/1/24.
How can I support this big win for school nurses?
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Share the good news with your colleagues!
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Recognize Members - Senator Pamela Beidle (maryland.gov) (District 32, D- Anne Arundel County) for her leadership on the Senate Finance Committee to support this legislation and her support to ensure the program is fully funded for school nurses.
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Recognize Members - Delegate Bernice Mireku-North (maryland.gov) (District 14, D-Montgomery County) for her leadership in the Maryland House of Delegates. I
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If you may qualify for the program, review the specifics now at Janet Hoffman LARP current program and again in mid-July, as changes that include school nurses go into effect July 1, 2024.
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- Maryland Kids Code, Consumer Protection - Online Products and Services - Data of Children (SB571 / HB603) outlines common sense internet privacy protections for Maryland's Children and goes into effect October 1, 2024. Research published by the National Association of School Nurses earlier this year highlights the epidemic nature of the psychosocial impact social media use has on adolescents. You can also review Liz Elliott's commentary in Maryland Matters at School nurse: Social media exacerbates teen health crisis by design - Maryland Matters
- Public and Nonpublic Schools - Bronchodilators ( SB180 / HB86) goes into effect July 1, 2024. The bill requires training to be developed by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland Department of Education in consultation with the American Lung Association and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The bill requires MDH to establish a policy for public schools to authorize the school nurse and designated trained school personnel to administer stock bronchodilators to a student who is or is perceived to be, experiencing asthma-related or respiratory-distress symptoms. Nonpublic schools are authorized to establish such a policy.
MASHN is recruiting for members of the Legislative Committee for SY 2024-2025! Please let us know if you'd like to learn more and participate in the legislative process in our wonderful State. Lots of mentoring, opportunities to testify in writing and orally, and more insight into how laws are passed can all be yours! Please reply to this e-mail with your name, cell phone and an e-mail you check year-round. Thank you for working hard to support the health and well-being of students in Maryland's schools every day.
Liz Elliott
President, Maryland Association of School Health Nurses