2020 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 10 - Education and Culture
Chapter 169 - School Health and Sanitation
Section 10-212a - Administration of medications in schools, at athletic events and to children in school readiness programs.

(a)(1) A school nurse or, in the absence of such nurse, any other nurse licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 378, including a nurse employed by, or providing services under the direction of a local or regional board of education at, a school-based health clinic, who shall administer medical preparations only to students enrolled in such school-based health clinic in the absence of a school nurse, the principal, any teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by a school district, or coach of intramural and interscholastic athletics of a school may administer, subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection, medicinal preparations, including such controlled drugs as the Commissioner of Consumer Protection may, by regulation, designate, to any student at such school pursuant to the written order of a physician licensed to practice medicine, or a dentist licensed to practice dental medicine in this or another state, or an optometrist licensed to practice optometry in this state under chapter 380, or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to prescribe in accordance with section 20-94a, or a physician assistant licensed to prescribe in accordance with section 20-12d, and the written authorization of a parent or guardian of such child. The administration of medicinal preparations by a nurse licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 378, a principal, teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by a school district, or coach shall be under the general supervision of a school nurse. No such school nurse or other nurse, principal, teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by a school district, coach or school paraprofessional administering medication pursuant to this section shall be liable to such student or a parent or guardian of such student for civil damages for any personal injuries that result from acts or omissions of such school nurse or other nurse, principal, teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by a school district, coach or school paraprofessional administering medication pursuant to this section in administering such preparations that may constitute ordinary negligence. This immunity does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, wilful or wanton negligence.

(2) Each local and regional board of education that allows a school nurse or, in the absence of such nurse, any other nurse licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 378, including a nurse employed by, or providing services under the direction of a local or regional board of education at, a school-based health clinic, who shall administer medical preparations only to students enrolled in such school-based health clinic in the absence of a school nurse, the principal, any teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by a school district, coach of intramural and interscholastic athletics or school paraprofessional of a school to administer medicine or that allows a student to possess, self-administer or possess and self-administer medicine, including medicine administered through the use of an asthmatic inhaler or an automatic prefilled cartridge injector or similar automatic injectable equipment, shall adopt written policies and procedures, in accordance with this section and the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, that shall be approved by the school medical advisor, if any, or other qualified licensed physician. Once so approved, such administration of medication shall be in accordance with such policies and procedures.

(3) A director of a school readiness program as defined in section 10-16p or a before or after school program exempt from licensure by the Department of Public Health pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 19a-77, or the director's designee, may administer medications to a child enrolled in such a program in accordance with regulations adopted by the State Board of Education in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. No individual administering medications pursuant to this subdivision shall be liable to such child or a parent or guardian of such child for civil damages for any personal injuries that result from acts or omissions of such individual in administering such medications which may constitute ordinary negligence. This immunity shall not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, wilful or wanton negligence.

(b) Each school wherein any controlled drug is administered under the provisions of this section shall keep such records thereof as are required of hospitals under the provisions of subsections (f) and (h) of section 21a-254 and shall store such drug in such manner as the Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall, by regulation, require.

(c) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, determined to be necessary by the board to carry out the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, regulations that (1) specify conditions under which a coach of intramural and interscholastic athletics may administer medicinal preparations, including controlled drugs specified in the regulations adopted by the commissioner, to a child participating in such intramural and interscholastic athletics, (2) specify conditions and procedures for the administration of medication by school personnel to students, including the conditions and procedures for the storage and administration of epinephrine by school personnel to students for the purpose of emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reactions and who do not have a prior written authorization for the administration of epinephrine, in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, and (3) specify conditions for the possession, self-administration or possession and self-administration of medication by students, including permitting a child diagnosed with: (A) Asthma to retain possession of an asthmatic inhaler at all times while attending school for prompt treatment of the child's asthma and to protect the child against serious harm or death provided a written authorization for self-administration of medication signed by the child's parent or guardian and an authorized prescriber is submitted to the school nurse; and (B) an allergic condition to retain possession of an automatic prefilled cartridge injector or similar automatic injectable equipment at all times, including while attending school or receiving school transportation services, for prompt treatment of the child's allergic condition and to protect the child against serious harm or death provided a written authorization for self-administration of medication signed by the child's parent or guardian and an authorized prescriber is submitted to the school nurse. The regulations shall require authorization pursuant to: (i) The written order of a physician licensed to practice medicine in this or another state, a dentist licensed to practice dental medicine in this or another state, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 378, a physician assistant licensed under chapter 370, a podiatrist licensed under chapter 375, or an optometrist licensed under chapter 380; and (ii) the written authorization of a parent or guardian of such child.

(d) (1) (A) With the written authorization of a student's parent or guardian, and (B) pursuant to the written order of a qualified medical professional, a school nurse and a school medical advisor, if any, may jointly approve and provide general supervision to an identified school paraprofessional to administer medication, including, but not limited to, medication administered with a cartridge injector, to a specific student with a medically diagnosed allergic condition that may require prompt treatment in order to protect the student against serious harm or death.

(2) A school nurse or, in the absence of a school nurse, a qualified school employee shall maintain epinephrine in cartridge injectors for the purpose of emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reactions and do not have a prior written authorization of a parent or guardian or a prior written order of a qualified medical professional for the administration of epinephrine. A school nurse or a school principal shall select qualified school employees to administer such epinephrine under this subdivision, and there shall be at least one such qualified school employee on the grounds of the school during regular school hours in the absence of a school nurse. A school nurse or, in the absence of such school nurse, such qualified school employee may administer such epinephrine under this subdivision, provided such administration of epinephrine is in accordance with policies and procedures adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. Such administration of epinephrine by a qualified school employee shall be limited to situations when the school nurse is absent or unavailable. No qualified school employee shall administer such epinephrine under this subdivision unless such qualified school employee annually completes the training program described in section 10-212g. The parent or guardian of a student may submit, in writing, to the school nurse and school medical advisor, if any, that epinephrine shall not be administered to such student under this subdivision.

(3) In the case of a student with a medically diagnosed life-threatening allergic condition, (A) with the written authorization of such student's parent or guardian, and (B) pursuant to the written order of a qualified medical professional, such student may possess, self-administer or possess and self-administer medication, including, but not limited to, medication administered with a cartridge injector, to protect such student against serious harm or death.

(4) For purposes of this subsection, (A) “cartridge injector” means an automatic prefilled cartridge injector or similar automatic injectable equipment used to deliver epinephrine in a standard dose for emergency first aid response to allergic reactions, (B) “qualified school employee” means a principal, teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by a school district, coach or school paraprofessional, and (C) “qualified medical professional” means (i) a physician licensed under chapter 370, (ii) an optometrist licensed to practice optometry under chapter 380, (iii) an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to prescribe in accordance with section 20-94a, or (iv) a physician assistant licensed to prescribe in accordance with section 20-12d.

(e) (1) With the written authorization of a student's parent or guardian, and (2) pursuant to a written order of the student's physician licensed under chapter 370 or the student's advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 378, a school nurse or a school principal shall select, and a school nurse shall provide general supervision to, a qualified school employee to administer medication with injectable equipment used to administer glucagon to a student with diabetes that may require prompt treatment in order to protect the student against serious harm or death. Such authorization shall be limited to situations when the school nurse is absent or unavailable. No qualified school employee shall administer medication under this subsection unless (A) such qualified school employee annually completes any training required by the school nurse and school medical advisor, if any, in the administration of medication with injectable equipment used to administer glucagon, (B) the school nurse and school medical advisor, if any, have attested, in writing, that such qualified school employee has completed such training, and (C) such qualified school employee voluntarily agrees to serve as a qualified school employee. For purposes of this subsection, “injectable equipment used to administer glucagon” means an injector or injectable equipment used to deliver glucagon in an appropriate dose for emergency first aid response to diabetes. For purposes of this subsection, “qualified school employee” means a principal, teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by a school district, coach or school paraprofessional.

(f) (1) (A) With the written authorization of a student's parent or guardian, and (B) pursuant to the written order of a physician licensed under chapter 370 or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 378, a school nurse and a school medical advisor, if any, shall select, and a school nurse shall provide general supervision to, a qualified school employee to administer antiepileptic medication, including by rectal syringe, to a specific student with a medically diagnosed epileptic condition that requires prompt treatment in accordance with the student's individual seizure action plan. Such authorization shall be limited to situations when the school nurse is absent or unavailable. No qualified school employee shall administer medication under this subsection unless (i) such qualified school employee annually completes the training program described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, (ii) the school nurse and school medical advisor, if any, have attested, in writing, that such qualified school employee has completed such training, (iii) such qualified school employee receives monthly reviews by the school nurse to confirm such qualified school employee's competency to administer antiepileptic medication under this subsection, and (iv) such qualified school employee voluntarily agrees to serve as a qualified school employee. For purposes of this subsection, “qualified school employee” means a principal, teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by a school district, coach or school paraprofessional.

(2) The Department of Education, in consultation with the School Nurse Advisory Council, established pursuant to section 10-212f, and the Association of School Nurses of Connecticut, shall develop an antiepileptic medication administrating training program. Such training program shall include instruction in (A) an overview of childhood epilepsy and types of seizure disorders, (B) interpretation of individual student's emergency seizure action plan and recognition of individual student's seizure activity, (C) emergency management procedures for seizure activity, including administration techniques for emergency seizure medication, (D) when to activate emergency medical services and postseizure procedures and follow-up, (E) reporting procedures after a student has required such delegated emergency seizure medication, and (F) any other relevant issues or topics related to emergency interventions for students who experience seizures.

(1969, P.A. 723, S. 1; P.A. 74-86; P.A. 77-101, S. 3; P.A. 78-99, S. 1, 3; 78-303, S. 57, 136; P.A. 79-560, S. 4, 39; 79-631, S. 38, 111; P.A. 84-498, S. 4, 5; P.A. 88-360, S. 47, 63; P.A. 90-85, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-103, S. 2; 94-213, S. 1; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 37; P.A. 03-211, S. 4; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(h); P.A. 04-181, S. 1; 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 07-241, S. 3; 07-252, S. 36; P.A. 09-155, S. 1; P.A. 12-198, S. 2; P.A. 13-31, S. 15; P.A. 14-176, S. 1; P.A. 15-215, S. 22; P.A. 16-39, S. 6; P.A. 18-185, S. 4–6.)

History: P.A. 74-86 substituted “in the absence of such nurse” for “in her absence” in Subsec. (a); P.A. 77-101 included reference to Sec. 19-461(h) in Subsec. (b); P.A. 78-99 substituted commissioner of health services for public health council in Subsec. (a) and allowed nurses to administer drugs on prescription of physicians licensed in states other than Connecticut; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner of health services for public health council in Subsec. (b); P.A. 79-560 and P.A. 79-631 included reference to Sec. 19-461(h) in Subsec. (b); P.A. 84-498 permitted licensed practical nurses to administer medicinal preparations in a school and required all such preparations to be administered under the general supervision of a school nurse and added reference to dentist's prescriptions; P.A. 88-360 in Subsec. (a) provided for the administration of aspirin, ibuprofen or an aspirin substitute containing acetaminophen; P.A. 90-85 amended Subsec. (a) to delete language allowing a nurse, principal or teacher to administer aspirin, ibuprofen or an aspirin substitute containing acetaminophen to a student pursuant to a written commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-103 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision regarding nurses in school-based health clinics; P.A. 94-213 amended Subsec. (a) to add reference to prescriptions by advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2 amended Subsec. (a) by adding coaches to list of who may administer drugs and added Subsec. (c) re regulation on administration of drugs by coaches; P.A. 03-211 amended Subsec. (a) to include references to licensed physical or occupational therapists and paraprofessionals and substitute Commissioner of Consumer Protection for Commissioner of Public Health, amended Subsec. (b) to substitute Commissioner of Consumer Protection for Commissioner of Public Health, amended Subsec. (c) to allow the State Board of Education to adopt regulations in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health, designate provisions re coaches as Subdiv. (1), add Subdivs. (2) and (3) re administration of medication by school personnel and students and redesignate Subdivs. (1) and (2) as Subparas. (A) and (B), and added Subsec. (d) re administration of medication by a paraprofessional, effective July 1, 2003; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Consumer Protection with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-181 amended Subsec. (a) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1), making a conforming change therein and adding Subdiv. (2) re written policies and procedures for self-administration of medicine, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 07-241 added Subsec. (a)(3) re school readiness programs and before or after school programs, effective July 10, 2007; P.A. 07-252 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a)(1) and (c)(3)(A) and amended Subsecs. (a)(1) and (d)(2) to allow administration of medicine based on written order of a licensed optometrist, effective July 1, 2007; P.A. 09-155 amended Subsec. (a)(1) and (2) by adding “licensed athletic trainer” to list of school professionals who may administer medicinal preparations, amended Subsec. (a)(2) by including medicine administered through an asthmatic inhaler and an automatic prefilled cartridge injector among medicines that may be administered at school, amended Subsec. (c) by requiring State Board of Education to adopt regulations concerning retention and use of asthmatic inhalers and automatic prefilled cartridge injectors by students while at school, by authorizing out-of-state physician to issue written orders re medicine administered at school and by making technical changes, and amended Subsec. (d)(1) by substituting “parent or guardian” for “parents”, effective August 15, 2009; P.A. 12-198 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by adding references to Subsec. (e), amended Subsec. (d)(1)(A) by replacing “to practice medicine” with “under chapter 370” and added Subsec. (e) re administration of glucagon to a student with diabetes, effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 13-31 made a technical change in Subsec. (d), effective May 28, 2013; P.A. 14-176 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting “subsections (d) and (e) of” in Subdiv. (1) and adding “or school paraprofessional” and “if any” in Subdiv. (2), amended Subsec. (c)(2) by adding provision re storage and administration of epinephrine, amended Subsec. (d) by designating existing language as Subpara. (A), redesignating Subdiv. (2) as Subpara. (B), deleting former Subparas. (A) to (D) and adding “a qualified medical professional” and “if any” in redesignated Subpara. (B) in Subdiv. (1), adding new Subdiv. (2) re maintenance and administration of epinephrine, designating existing language re definition of “cartridge injector” as Subdiv. (3)(A) and adding Subdiv. (3)(B) and (C) re definition of “qualified school employee” and “qualified medical professional”, and amended Subsec. (e) to add “if any”, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 15-215 added Subsec. (f) re administration of antiepileptic medication, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 16-39 amended Subsec. (e)(2) by adding reference to student's advanced practice registered nurse, and amended Subsec. (f)(1)(B) by adding reference to advanced practice registered nurse; P.A. 18-185 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by adding “possess, self-administer or possess and”, amended Subsec. (c)(3) by adding “the possession, self-administration or possession and” and adding “, including” and “or receiving school transportation services,” in Subpara. (B), and amended Subsec. (d) by adding new Subdiv. (3) re student may possess, self-administer or possess and self-administer medication and designating existing Subdiv. (3) re definitions as Subdiv. (4), effective July 1, 2018.

See Sec. 10-220j re blood glucose self-testing by children.