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REPRESENTATIVE
CANAVAN ANNOUNCES PASSAGE OF
H.1087,
AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE RIGHTS OF SCHOOL NURSES
State Representative Christine E. Canavan, RN
(D-Brockton) is proud to announce that the
MA House
of Representatives
AND Senate
have passed
unanimously H.1087, AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE RIGHTS
OF SCHOOL NURSES. This bill was sponsored by
Representative Canavan, and although it was recently
sent back by the Governor with an amendment,
proponents of the bill are confident of its ultimate
passage.
H.1087, more commonly referred to as “The
School Nurses Bill,” sought to provide
Massachusetts public school nurses the same due
process rights as other school professionals by
giving them professional teaching status as set in
M.G.L. Chapter 71: Section 41, also know as
the Education Reform Act of 1993. Although prior to
this legislation school nurses were required to have
earned a Bachelor of Science degree and be a
Registered Nurse in the state of
Massachusetts, they were not given the well-deserved
recognition and benefits that other school
professionals hold.
The passage of H.1087 was truly a great
triumph for school nurses across the Commonwealth.
“Finally the intent of the Education Reform Act
will be met and Registered Nurses will be recognized
as the highly educated professionals they are,” said
Representative Canavan.
REPRESENTATIVE CANAVAN ANNOUNCES
H.1087,
AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE RIGHTS OF SCHOOL NURSES,
HAS BECOME LAW
State Representative Christine E. Canavan, RN
(D-Brockton) is proud to announce that through a
bipartisan effort, led on the Republican side by
Representative Karyn Polito (R – Shrewsbury),
H.1087, AN ACT RELATIVE TO
THE RIGHTS OF SCHOOL NURSES
has become law.
This law was sponsored by Representative Canavan,
and although it was sent back by the Governor twice,
first with an amendment, and when that amendment was
rejected, with a veto, the Legislature was able to
override the Governor’s veto with unanimous votes in
both the House and Senate on Monday, July 24, 2006,
to give school nurses the rights and status they
deserve.
H.1087, more commonly referred to as “The
School Nurses Bill,” sought to provide
Massachusetts public school nurses the same due
process rights as other school professionals by
giving them professional teaching status as set in
M.G.L. Chapter 71: Section 41, also know as
the Education Reform Act of 1993. Although prior to
this legislation school nurses were required to have
earned a Bachelor of Science degree and be a
Registered Nurse in the state of
Massachusetts, they were not given the well-deserved
recognition and benefits that other school
professionals hold.
The passage of H.1087 was truly a great
triumph for school nurses across the Commonwealth.
“School nurses are professionals in every sense of
the word, and deserve to be recognized as such.
This law is the final step in that
professionalization process. The importance of this
bill is reflected in its bipartisan support, and I
appreciate the efforts of Representative Karyn
Polito. This issue supersedes party lines, and I am
thrilled that all my colleagues in the Legislature
realized that,” said Representative Canavan.
After the successful override votes in both branches
of the Legislature, Representative Polito stated,
“Our nurses are on the front lines helping our
students across the Commonwealth live healthier and
safer lives. Representative Canavan and I share a
strong commitment to our school nurses and our
children, and I’m pleased we were able to work
together to make this issue a priority on Beacon
Hill.”
If you would
like more information on H.1087, please do
not hesitate to contact Representative Canavan’s
office at
(617)
722-2006.
She and her staff will be happy to assist you.
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