Senate Education Policy Committee members voted to send Senate File 1354, which would create a statewide interdisciplinary school health advisory committee, to the State and Local Government Committee after testimony from nurses and health experts.

Supporters told the committee the advisory body would advise the governor and the Legislature on policies to safeguard and promote student health, reduce health-related barriers to learning and recommend evidence-based school nursing and health services.

Sen. Nick Bolden, the bill author, said the proposal "would create a school health advisory committee, which would advise the governor and us, the legislature, on policies and practices related to school health." Tara Cliff, president of the School Nurse Organization of Minnesota, said the panel could centralize review of health data and keep policy recommendations aligned with advances in clinical practice. "The student health advisory committee would be instrumental in driving these changes through evidence based recommendations and continuous improvement on our state's educational and health care systems," Cliff said.

Dr. Ruth Ellen Lear, a licensed school nurse and former Minnesota Department of Education school health services specialist, told the committee the statute currently requires districts to provide services that promote child health but leaves large local variation in implementation. "Right now, we have in Minnesota statute 121A.21, the requirement for school districts to provide services that promote the health of the children," Lear said, arguing the advisory committee would provide a consistent framework across districts.

Committee members asked about cost and authority. Sen. Duckworth asked whether the measure carried a fiscal note and whether the panel would have rule-making power; Bolden said no fiscal note had yet been prepared and described the group as advisory. Sen. Wiesenberger asked about partisan balance among legislative appointees; Bolden said he intended to clarify language to require bipartisan representation.

The committee recorded a voice vote sending the bill to the State and Local Government Committee. The transcript records committee approval with members saying "aye." The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the hearing transcript.

Next steps: SF 1354 will be considered by the State and Local Government Committee for further review and any fiscal analysis.