HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  SB 5258

Title:  An act relating to medicinal and catheterization administration in public schools.

Brief Description:  Providing medical assistance in public schools.

Sponsors:  Senators Hochstatter, Zarelli, Finkbeiner, McAuliffe, Rasmussen and Goings.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  February 19, 1998.

Analysis Prepared by:  Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

Background:   Federal and state laws require the state to assure that appropriate special education and related services are provided to children with disabilities.  In Irving Independent School District v. Tatro, the United State Supreme Court held that clean intermittent catheterization is both a related and supportive service under the federal Education of the Handicapped Act. Any school that receives funds under the act is required to provide this service if the procedure is necessary for a student to benefit from the student=s educational program.

State law requires school districts and private schools to adopt policies on the administration of oral medication or the provision of bladder catheterization if schools provide this service for students during school hours.  The policies must address, among other things, which employees may administer the medications or the catheterization, and how schools acquire parent and physician requests to medicate or catheterize.  Nonlicensed school employees who provide oral medication or catheterization for students must receive training from a physician or registered nurse.

Oral Medication

Before school personnel administer oral medication, certain procedures must be followed. The school must obtain the following: a written request from a parent or legal guardian; a written explanation from a licensed physician or dentist on why the medication needs to be administered during school hours; and directions from the dentist or doctor for administering the medicine.  The public or private school employee who administers the medication has to follow the prescription, and ensure that the medication appears to be in its original container and is properly labeled.  A registered nurse or advanced registered nurse practitioner must train any public or private school employee who administers oral medication in proper medication procedures.

Catheterization

Public and private schools may require employees to provide clean, intermittent bladder catheterization of students, or help students in performing a self-catheterization.  If a school district or private school provides catheterization services, then the school must comply with rules adopted by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission.  The rules require the school  to obtain a written request for the catheterization from the parents or guardian and the student=s physician and written instructions from a registered nurse or advanced registered nurse practitioner.  The instructions must designate the person to provide the catheterization and indicate any necessary supervision.  Finally, training is required of any employee who performs catheterization or assists  a student in self-catheterization, if the employee is not a licensed practical nurse.  The training must be provided by a physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or registered nurse.   The school must develop the catheterization policy in accordance with collective bargaining agreements. 

Summary of Bill:   School districts and private schools must obtain written agreements from employees who are required to administer oral medication to students.  The schools must maintain a record of the agreements.

Nonlicensed school employees may file a written letter of refusal to administer oral medications to students or to perform clean intermittant bladder catheterization for students.  This letter of refusal may not constitute grounds for employee dismissal or termination of employment.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.