Bill > S3375

Introduced Session

This bill requires a school district, as part of the implementation of a seizure action plan, to maintain a supply of diazepam nasal spray, midazolam nasal spray, and any other similar nasal rescue medication approved for seizures and identified in a seizure action plan submitted to the school district, as prescribed under a standing protocol from a licensed physician or an advanced practice nurse and portable oxygen delivery devices in secure but unlocked locations easily accessible by the school nurse and trained designees throughout each school building to ensure prompt availability in the event of a seizure emergency during school hours and at any other time when a school-sponsored event is taking place on the premises of a school building. The school nurse of each school building would be responsible for designating locations where such nasal rescue medication and oxygen delivery devices would be placed. Nothing in this bill would be construed to prohibit the use of portable oxygen delivery devices to respond to other medical emergencies that may occur during school hours or when a school-sponsored function is taking place on the premises of a school building. The school nurse would have the primary responsibility for administering nasal rescue medication and oxygen but would be able to designate, in consultation with the board of education, additional employees to administer nasal rescue medication to a student when the nurse is not physically present at the scene of a seizure emergency. The school nurse would also be responsible for determining that:· the designees have been properly trained in the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen using standardized training protocols established by the Department of Education in consultation with the Department of Health;· the parents or guardians of the student consent in writing to the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen by the designees;· the board of education informs the parents or guardians of the student in writing that the district and its employees or agents will have no liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen to the student;· the parents or guardians of the student sign a statement acknowledging their understanding that the district will have no liability as a result of any injury arising from the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen to the student and that the parents or guardians will indemnify and hold harmless the district and its employees or agents against any claims arising out of the administration of nasal rescue medication and oxygen to the student; and· the permission is effective for the school year for which it is granted and is renewed for each subsequent school year upon fulfillment of the above requirements. In developing the training protocols under the bill, the Department of Education and the Department of Health would be required to: consult with the New Jersey School Nurses Association; distribute the protocols to school districts at the beginning of each school year; and update the protocols as needed. The Department of Education would be responsible for reimbursing the costs incurred by school districts implementing certain provisions of the bill.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Tony Bucco (R)*,  Patrick Diegnan (D),  Vin Gopal (D), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee (on 06/03/2024)

Official Document