Assembly Bill No. 398-Assemblymen Williams, Close, Arberry, Buckley, Herrera, Goldwater, Krenzer, Giunchigliani, Segerblom and Price
April 22, 1997
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Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
SUMMARY--Makes appropriation and provides for pilot program to facilitate availability of social workers in schools. (BDR S-1058)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: Contains Appropriation not included in Executive Budget.
EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to schools; providing for the establishment of a pilot program to facilitate the availability of social workers in schools; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1 1. The Department of Education shall establish a pilot program to facilitate the increased availability of school social workers in school districts that apply to participate in the program.
2. The goal of the pilot program must be to employ 10 school social workers to assist pupils in grades 6 through 12 whose educational or behavioral development is restricted as a result of social or emotional issues, family circumstances or living in environments that impede their individual abilities to learn. The Department of Education shall determine from among the applications which school districts are most in need of such a program and establish a program in those districts. The department shall, if appropriate applications were submitted, take such actions as are necessary to assign at least one school social worker to a rural school district, one to a northern school district and one to a southern school district. The program established by the department must include standards for evaluating the program and describe the services that are to be provided by the school social workers. The emphasis of those services must include prevention, rehabilitation and intervention regarding such issues as gangs, teen pregnancy, child abuse and neglect, adolescent suicide, domestic violence and dropping out of school.
3. The Department of Education shall submit a report of the progress of the program:
(a) On or before March 15, 1998, to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission to the Legislative Commission; and
(b) On or before January 15, 1999, to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission to the 70th session of the Nevada Legislature.
4. As used in this section, "school social worker" means a social worker who:
(a) Holds at least a master's degree from an accredited graduate school of social work;
(b) Holds the appropriate license as required by the Board of Examiners for Social Workers; and
(c) Holds an endorsement as a school social worker issued by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Sec. 2 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general fund to the Department of Education the sum of $1,000,000 for the establishment of a pilot program pursuant to section 1 of this act.
2. The money appropriated in subsection 1 must not be used:
(a) To pay the salary and benefits of an employee who does not meet the qualifications set forth in subsection 4 of section 1 of this act;
(b) To settle or arbitrate disputes between a recognized organization representing employees of a school district and the school district or social service agency; or
(c) To adjust the district-wide schedules of salaries and benefits of the employees of a school district.
3. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection 1 must not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 1999, and reverts to the state general fund as soon as all payments of money committed have been made.
Sec. 3 This act becomes effective on July 1, 1997.