An Act to amend 118.15 (3) (a) of the statutes; Relating to: health care providers providing excused absences under the compulsory school attendance law.
Impact
The proposed amendment to section 118.15 of the statutes will impact the enforcement of school attendance laws in Wisconsin. By excluding registered nurses from the list of authorized health care providers, schools will limit the avenues through which parents can obtain excuses for their children's absences. This raises potential concerns about accessibility for families who may rely on registered nurses for care, particularly in rural areas where such professionals may be more prevalent compared to other types of licensed practitioners.
Summary
Assembly Bill 982 focuses on amending Wisconsin's compulsory school attendance law by changing which health care providers can issue written statements excusing students from attending school due to temporary physical or mental conditions. The bill specifically removes registered nurses from the list of acceptable providers able to provide such statements, while maintaining the ability of advanced practice registered nurses and a variety of other licensed health care professionals to do so. This legislative change is intended to clarify and streamline the process of obtaining excused absences for students who are unable to attend school due to health reasons.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding AB982 include the reduced access to excusal statements for students whose care may primarily involve registered nurses. Advocates for maintaining registered nurses in this capacity argue that it could disproportionately affect certain populations, particularly those who do not have easy access to physicians or other licensed professionals listed in the bill. Critics may perceive the change as an unnecessary limitation on parental rights and an impediment to ensuring children can receive appropriate excused absences during illness.