Bill > A4799

Introduced Session

Under current law, a board of education or the governing board or chief school administrator of a nonpublic school must permit the self-administration of medication by a pupil for asthma or other potentially life-threatening illnesses or a life-threatening allergic reaction, provided that certain conditions are met. This bill requires a district or nonpublic school to also permit the self-administration of medication by a pupil for adrenal insufficiency, provided the same conditions are met. A pupil who is permitted to self-administer medication for adrenal insufficiency under the bill is permitted to carry the medication at all times, provided that the he does not endanger himself or other persons through misuse. The bill also requires that each school district and nonpublic school develop a policy for the emergency administration of hydrocortisone sodium succinate through appropriate delivery devices and equipment to pupils for adrenal insufficiency. The policy required under the provisions of the bill is modeled on the policy currently required to be developed by school districts and nonpublic schools for the emergency administration of epinephrine via a prefilled auto-injector mechanism to pupils for anaphylaxis. Under the policy, the parents or guardians of the pupil must provide their written authorization for the administration of hydrocortisone sodium succinate and submit written certification from the pupil's physician or advanced practice nurse that the pupil requires the administration of the medication for adrenal insufficiency. The policy must also require: the district or nonpublic school to inform the parents or guardians that it will incur no liability arising from the administration of the medication; and the parents or guardians to sign a statement acknowledging that the district or nonpublic school will incur no liability. Under the policy, the pupil's prescribed hydrocortisone sodium succinate must be placed in a secure but unlocked location to ensure prompt availability in the event of an emergency situation at school or at a school-sponsored function. As with the current policy required for the administration of epinephrine, the school nurse has the primary responsibility for the administration of the hydrocortisone sodium succinate and must designate additional employees who volunteer to administer the medication when the school nurse is not physically present at the scene. The Department of Education and the Department of Health are required to jointly develop training protocols, in consultation with the New Jersey School Nurses Association, in order to assist school nurses in recruiting and training the volunteer designees. The bill also specifies that no school employee, or any other officer or agent of the school district or nonpublic school will be held liable for any good faith act or omission consistent with the provisions of the bill, nor will an action before the New Jersey State Board of Nursing lie against a school nurse for any action taken by a person designated in good faith by the school nurse. Adrenal insufficiency is a disorder in which the adrenal glands fail to produce sufficient amounts of steroid hormones, such as the stress hormone cortisol. Inadequate levels of adrenal hormones can result in an adrenal crisis, which may be life threatening without proper immediate treatment. Adrenal crisis can lead to severe health consequences including, hypoglycemia, extremely low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and loss of consciousness.

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Daniel Benson (D)*,  Craig Coughlin (D)*,  Yvonne Lopez (D)*,  Teresa Ruiz (D)*,  Joe Vitale (D)*,  Dawn Addiego (D), 

Approved P.L.2019, c.118. (on 05/10/2019)