KRS 158.838: Emergency administration and self -administration of diabetes and seizure

disorder medications -- Required training -- Required written statements and

seizure action plan -- Limitation on liability -- Renewal of permission --

Expiration dates of m edication -- Self-performance of diabetes care tasks --

Diabetes or seizure disorder not to prevent attendance at school the student

would ordinarily attend.

(1) (a) Beginning July 15, 2014, the board of each local public school district and the

governing body of each private and parochial school or school district shall

have at least one (1) school employee at each school who has met the

requirements of KRS 156.502 on duty during the entire school day to

administer or assist with the self-administration of the following medication:

1. Glucagon subcutaneously to students with diabetes who are

experiencing hypoglycemia or other conditions noted in the health care

practitioner's written statement under subsection (2)(a)2. of this section;

2. Insulin subcutaneously, through the insulin delivery method used by the

student and at the times and under the conditions noted in the health care

practitioner's written statement under subsection (2)(a)2. of this section;

and

3. A seizure rescue medication or medication prescribed to treat seizure

disorder symptoms approved by the United States Food and Drug

Administration and any successor agency.

(b) For those assigned the duties under paragraph (a) of this subsection, the

training provided under KRS 156.502 shall inclu de instruction in

administering:

1. Insulin and glucagon, as well as recognition of the signs and symptoms

of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and the appropriate steps to be

taken to respond to these symptoms; and

2. Seizure medications, as well as the reco gnition of the signs and

symptoms of seizures and the appropriate steps to be taken to respond to

these symptoms.

(c) Any training program or guidelines adopted by any state agency for training of

school personnel in the diabetes care tasks covered by this section shall be

fully consistent with training programs and guidelines developed by the

American Diabetes Association. Notwithstanding any state agency

requirement or other law to the contrary, for purposes of this training a local

school district shall be permitted to use any adequate and appropriate training

program or guidelines for training of school personnel in the diabetes care

tasks covered under this section.

(d) Any training program or guidelines adopted by any state agency for training of

school personnel in the health care needs of students diagnosed with a seizure

disorder shall be fully consistent with best practice guidelines from medical

professionals with expertise in seizure treatment.

(2) (a) Prior to administering any of the medications listed under subsection (1)(a) of

this section to a student, the student's parent or guardian shall:

1. Provide the school with a written authorization to administer the

medication at school;

2. Provide a written statement from the student's health care p ractitioner,

which shall contain the following information:

a. Student's name;

b. The name and purpose of the medication;

c. The prescribed dosage;

d. The route of administration;

e. The frequency that the medication may be administered; and

f. The circumstances under which the medication may be

administered; and

3. Provide the prescribed medication to the school in its unopened, sealed

package with the label affixed by the dispensing pharmacy intact.

(b) In addition to the statements required in paragraph (a) of this subsection, the

parent or guardian of each student diagnosed with a seizure disorder shall

collaborate with school personnel to implement the seizure action plan. The

Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate administrative regula tions

establishing procedures for the implementation of seizure action plans.

(3) (a) The statements and seizure action plan required in subsection (2) of this

section shall be kept on file in the office of the school nurse or school

administrator.

(b) Any school personnel or volunteers responsible for the supervision or care of

a student diagnosed with a seizure disorder shall be given notice of the seizure

action plan, the identity of the school employee or employees trained in

accordance with subsection (1)(a) of this section, and the method by which the

trained school employee or employees may be contacted in the event of an

emergency.

(4) The school district or the governing body of each private and parochial school or

school district shall inform the p arent or guardian of the student that the school and

its employees and agents shall not incur any liability as a result of any injury

sustained by the student from any reaction to any medication listed under subsection

(1)(a) of this section that a parent or guardian has authorized the school district to

administer to a student to treat a hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episode or a

seizure or its administration, unless the injury is the result of negligence or

misconduct on behalf of the school or its employ ees. The parent or guardian of the

student shall sign a written statement acknowledging that the school shall incur no

liability except as provided in this subsection, and the parent or guardian shall hold

harmless the school and its employees against any claims made for any reaction to

any medication listed under subsection (1)(a) of this section that a parent or

guardian has authorized the school district to administer to a student to treat a

hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episode or a seizure or its admin istration if the

reaction is not due to negligence or misconduct on behalf of the school or its

employees.

(5) The permission for the administration of any of the medications listed under

subsection (1)(a) of this section shall be effective for the school year in which it is

granted and shall be renewed each following school year upon fulfilling the

requirements of subsections (2) to (4) of this section.

(6) The school nurse or school administrator shall check the expiration date monthly for

each medication listed under subsection (1)(a) of this section that is in the

possession of the school. At least one (1) month prior to the expiration date of each

medication, the school nurse or school administrator shall inform the parent or

guardian of the expiration date.

(7) Upon the written request of the parent or guardian of the student and written

authorization by the student's health care practitioner, a student with diabetes shall

be permitted to perform blood glucose checks, administer insulin through the

insulin delivery system the student uses, treat hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, and

otherwise attend to the care and management of his or her diabetes in the school

setting and at school -related activities. A student shall be permitted to possess on

his or her person at all times necessary supplies and equipment to perform these

monitoring and treatment functions. Upon request by the parent or student, the

student shall have access to a private area for performing diabetes care tasks.

(8) (a) Beginning July 15, 2014, a school district shall permit a student who has

diabetes or a seizure disorder to attend the same school the student would

attend if the student did not have diabetes or a seizure disorder. Such a student

may only be transferred to a different scho ol based on health care needs if the

individualized education program team, the Section 504 team, or, if

appropriate, the student's health services team, makes the determination that

the student's health condition requires that the student's care be provid ed by a

licensed health care professional at a different school. For the purpose of this

determination, the teams shall include the parent or guardian. The parent or

guardian may invite the student's treating physician to the team meeting and

the team shal l consider the physician's input, whether in person or in written

form, when making this determination. This determination shall be based on

individualized factors related to the student's health conditions. A school

district shall not prohibit a student who has diabetes or a seizure disorder from

attending any school on the sole basis that:

1. The student has diabetes or a seizure disorder;

2. The school does not have a full-time school nurse; or

3. The school does not have school employees who are trained in

accordance with KRS 156.502 and assigned to provide care under this

section.

(b) Parents or guardians of students who have diabetes or a seizure disorder shall

not be required or pressured by school personnel to provide care for a student

with diabetes or a seizure disorder during regular school hours or during

school-related activities in which the student is a participant. For the purposes

of this paragraph, a participant is not a student who merely observes the

activity.

(9) The requirements of subsections (1) to (8) of this section shall apply only to schools

that have a student enrolled who:

(a) Has a seizure disorder and has a seizure rescue medication or medication

prescribed to treat seizure disorder symptoms approved by the United States

Food an d Drug Administration and any successor agency prescribed by the

student's health care provider; or

(b) Has diabetes mellitus and has any of the medications listed under subsection

(1)(a) of this section prescribed by the student's health care provider.

(10) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a school employee to consent to

administer medications listed under subsection (1)(a) of this section to a student if

the employee does not otherwise consent to provide the health service under KRS

156.502.

(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of the law to the contrary:

(a) The administration of the medications listed under subsection (1)(a) of this

section by school employees shall not constitute the practice of nursing and

shall be exempt from all applicable statutory and regulatory provisions that

restrict the activities that may be delegated to or performed by a person who is

not a licensed health care professional; and

(b) A licensed health care professional may provide training to or supervise

school employees in the administration of the medications listed under

subsection (1)(a) of this section.