S77 - School Contracted Health Services. (SL 2025-40)

Overview: S.L. 2025‑40 (Senate Bill 77) requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to contract with the parent's choice of nurse when providing nursing services pursuant to a child's individualized education program (IEP) if the following conditions are met:

• The child received nursing services from the nurse (i) prior to the nursing services being required by the child's IEP or (ii) prior to the child enrolling in his or her current school.
• The parent's choice of nurse is employed by a nursing agency and willing to provide the nursing services required by the child's IEP.
• The nursing agency employing the parent's choice of nurse is willing to enter into a contract with the LEA that otherwise meets all standard contract terms required for any other nursing agency contracted by the LEA, including licensing and liability requirements.
• The contracted rate is equal to or less than the contracted rate of other nurses contracted by the LEA.

Nursing services are defined as services that can only be provided by a nurse licensed in accordance with Article 9A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. The act does not limit the LEA's responsibility to provide a free appropriate public education.

This act became effective July 1, 2025, and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.