Section 10-212a-2 - Administration of medications(a) The board of education shall:(1) determine who shall administer medications in a school-a licensed nurse or, in the absence of such licensed nurse, qualified personnel for schools;(2) determine the circumstances under which self medication by students is permitted;(3) develop with the advice and approval of the school medical advisor, if any, or other qualified licensed physician, and the school nurse supervisor, specific written policies and procedures concerning the administration of medications to the students within the school system by a nurse, or in the absence of a nurse, by qualified personnel for schools, for students who have a written order from a physician, dentist, optometrist, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant, and the written authorization of a parent or guardian;(4) develop with the advice and approval of the school medical advisor, if any, or other qualified licensed physician, and the school nurse supervisor, specific written policies and procedures for the administration of epinephrine as emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reactions and who do not have a prior written authorization of a parent or guardian or prior written order of a qualified medical professional for the administration of epinephrine, such policies and procedures to include provision for:(A) the administration of epinephrine as emergency first aid by the school nurse or, when the school nurse is absent or unavailable, by a qualified school employee who has completed the training required by Section 10-212a of the Connecticut General Statutes;(B) the determination of the level of nursing services and number of qualified school employees needed to ensure that there is a school nurse or at least one such qualified school employee who has completed the training required by Section 10-212a of the Connecticut General Statutes on the grounds of each school in the district during regular school hours in the absence of a school nurse;(C) the determination of the supply of epinephrine in cartridge injectors that shall be available in each school in the district;(D) the selection of qualified school employees by a school nurse or a school principal from employees who voluntarily agree to complete the training required by Section 10-212a of the Connecticut General Statutes and to administer epinephrine as emergency first aid;(E) a mechanism to ensure communication to one or more qualified school employees and other staff that the school nurse is absent or unavailable and that a qualified school employee shall be responsible for the emergency administration of epinephrine;(F) a mechanism to ensure that persons who will administer epinephrine as emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reactions but who do not have a prior written authorization of a parent or guardian or prior written order of a qualified medical professional for the administration of epinephrine, are notified of the students whose parents have refused the emergency administration of epinephrine; and(G) the determination of the regular school hours for each school within its jurisdiction; and(5) review and revise, with the advice and approval of the school medical advisor, if any, or other qualified licensed physician and the school nurse supervisor or other qualified licensed physician, the policies and procedures concerning the administration of medications as needed, but at least biennially.(b) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, no medication may be administered without: (1) the written order of an authorized prescriber;(2) the written authorization of the student's parent or guardian or eligible student; and(3) the written permission of the parent for the exchange of information between the prescriber and the school nurse necessary to ensure the safe administration of such medication.(c) Prescribed medication shall be administered to and taken by only the person for whom the prescription has been written.(d) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, in the absence of a licensed nurse, only qualified personnel for schools who have been properly trained may administer medications to students as delegated by the school nurse, specifically: (1) Qualified personnel for schools may administer oral, topical, intranasal or inhalant medications.(2) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, medications with a cartridge injector may be administered by qualified personnel for schools only to a student with a medically diagnosed allergic condition which may require prompt treatment to protect the student against serious harm or death.(3) Investigational drugs or research or study medications may not be administered by qualified personnel for schools.(4) Coaches and licensed athletic trainers who have been trained in the administration of medication pursuant to Section 10-212a-8 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies may, during intramural and interscholastic events may administer medications pursuant to Section 10-212a-8 of these regulations.(5) Paraprofessionals who have been trained in the administration of medication pursuant to Section 10-212a-9 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, if approved by the local or regional board of education, may administer medications, including 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 pursuant to Section 10-212a-9 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.(e)(1) Qualified school employees who have completed the training required by Section 10-212a of the Connecticut General Statutes may administer epinephrine to students who experience allergic reactions but do not have a prior written authorization of a parent or guardian or the written order of a qualified medical professional for the purpose of emergency first aid as set forth in Section 10-212a of the Connecticut General Statutes and section 10-212a-1 through 10-212a-10, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.(2) The parent or guardian of a student may submit, in writing, to the school nurse or school medical advisor, if any, a notice that epinephrine shall not be administered to such student. The school district shall annually notify parents or guardians of the need to provide such written notice.(f) Each Board of Education shall: (1) establish policies and procedures to be followed in the event of a medication emergency; and(2) ensure that the following information is readily available in schools in its jurisdiction: (A) the local poison information center telephone number; and(B) the procedure to be followed in the event of a medication emergency or error and the individuals or facilities to be contacted in such event; and(C) the name of the person responsible for decision making in the absence of the school nurse.(g) All controlled drugs currently listed in schedules II through V of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, Section 21a-243-8 through 21a-243-11, may be administered in schools pursuant to board of education policy.(h) For FDA-approved medications being administered according to an approved study protocol, a copy of the study protocol shall be provided to the school nurse along with the name of the medication to be administered and the acceptable range of dose of such medication to be administered.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 10-212a-2
Effective August 8, 1995; Amended October 7, 2010; Amended August 17, 2015