An act CONCERNING PUBLIC SCHOOL NURSES, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas      As Engrossed: H2/24/25
2 95th General Assembly
                               A Bill

3 Regular Session, 2025                                          HOUSE BILL 1242

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5 By: Representatives J. Mayberry, McGruder

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8                        For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC SCHOOL NURSES; TO AMEND THE

10  MECHANISM BY WHICH SCHOOL NURSES ARE COMPENSATED; AND

11  FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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14                                           Subtitle

15                       TO AMEND THE MECHANISM BY WHICH SCHOOL

16                       NURSES ARE COMPENSATED.

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18 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

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20  SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 6-17-2202(1)(B), concerning the definition

21 of "classified employee", is amended to read as follows:

22                       (B) "Classified employee" does not include a nonlicensed:

23                       (i) Nonlicensed teacher; or

24                       (ii) School nurse; and

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26  SECTION 2. Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 17, Subchapter 1, is amended

27 to add an additional section to read as follows:

28  6-17-125. School nurses -- Compensation.

29  (a) As used in this section, "school nurse" means a licensed nurse

30 engaging in school nursing activities.

31  (b) Each school district board of directors shall:

32  (1) Except as otherwise provided by this section, pay school

33 nurses a minimum base salary that is at least equal to the minimum base

34 salary required for classroom teachers by � 6-17-2403; and

35  (2) Adopt a school nurse salary schedule that incorporates the

36 same or similar factors and steps as those used to establish and incorporated

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    As Engrossed: H2/24/25                                                  HB1242

1 in the public school district's employee salary schedule required by � 6-17-

2 2403.

3        (c)(1)(A) For the 2027-2028 school year and each school year

4 thereafter, each public school district shall have in place for a school

5 nurse employed by the public school district a minimum base salary and school

6 nurse salary schedule that meet the requirements of this section.

7        (B) The salary schedule for school nurses required under

8 this section shall be prorated based on a basic contract for teachers of one

9 hundred ninety (190) days as defined under � 6-17-2402.

10       (2)(A) A school nurse who holds a bachelor's degree and who has

11 zero (0) years of experience shall receive the same base salary for the

12 respective school year as that received by a classroom teacher who is

13 employed by the same public school district in which the school nurse is

14 employed and who has zero (0) years of experience and a bachelor's degree.

15       (B) A school nurse shall have his or her base salary

16 adjusted according to the factors considered in the salary schedule adopted

17 by the public school district in which the school nurse is employed.

18       (3) A school nurse shall receive at least ninety percent (90%)

19 of the base salary established for a classroom teacher with the same or

20 similar levels of education, experience, and other factors considered by a

21 public school district in its school nurse salary schedule and employee

22 salary schedule if the school nurse:

23       (A) Does not hold a bachelor's degree; and

24       (B) Is a registered nurse.

25       (4) A school nurse shall receive at least eighty percent (80%)

26 of the base salary established for a classroom teacher with the same or

27 similar levels of education, experience, and other factors considered by a

28 public school district in its school nurse salary schedule and employee

29 salary schedule if the school nurse:

30       (A) Does not hold a bachelor's degree; and

31       (B) Is a licensed practical nurse.

32       (d) A public school district shall not lower the current salary of a

33 school nurse who is currently:

34       (1) Employed by the public school district; and

35       (2) Earning a rate of pay that is higher than the salary

36 schedule required by this section.

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    As Engrossed: H2/24/25                                          HB1242

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2   SECTION 3. Arkansas Code � 6-20-2305(b), concerning additional

3 education funding categories under the Public School Funding Act of 2003, is

4 amended to add an additional subdivision to read as follows:

5   (7) The House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on

6 Education shall jointly consider costs associated with funding public school

7 district nurses under � 6-17-125 as part of the biennial adequacy review

8 process required under � 10-3-2102.

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10                          /s/J. Mayberry

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