SPONSOR:   

Rep. K. Williams & Sen. Townsend

 

Reps. Baumbach, Bolden, Keeley, Kowalko, Lynn, B. Short; Sen. Poore

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

HOUSE BILL NO. 234

 

 

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS.

 


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

 


Section 1. Amend Chapter 41, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 4126.  School-based health centers.

(a) All secondary public schools, including vocational-technical schools, but not including charter schools, are required to have a school-based health center compliant with § 3571G of Title 18 and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(b) The State shall bear the start-up costs for a school-based health center at any secondary public school that lacks such a center when this section takes effect.  The State shall fund such costs for at least one school per fiscal year until such a time as all secondary public schools, other than charter schools, are in compliance with this section.


SYNOPSIS

                This bill requires all public secondary schools, including vocational-technical schools, but not including charter schools, to have a school-based health center.  The state is required to fund start-up costs at the rate of one school per year for secondary schools that currently lack such a health center.  Wellness centers are an important means of providing preventative and primary medical care to teens and overcoming obstacles to care such as lack of transportation and cost.  Pursuant to House Bill No. 303, approved in June of 2012, insurers are required to reimburse for services provided at school-based health centers recognized by Delaware’s Division of Public Health.  Under DPH regulations students under 18 must enroll for service by having a parent or guardian sign a consent form.