SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5222

 

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Health & Long‑Term Care, February 14, 2001

 

Title:  An act relating to health.

 

Brief Description:  Requiring the registration of certain school health personnel.

 

Sponsors:  Senators Franklin, Winsley, Fraser, Carlson, Costa, Thibaudeau and Kohl‑Welles.

 

Brief History: 

Committee Activity:  Health & Long‑Term Care:  1/31/01, 2/14/01 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

 

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5222 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Thibaudeau, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Costa, Deccio, Fraser, Parlette and Winsley.

 

Staff:  Rhoda Donkin (786‑7198)

 

Background:  State law requires public school districts and private schools to adopt policies for administering oral medications to students.  These policies must identify the school employees who will administer the medications, include procedures that  ensure medications are properly stored,  packaged, and labeled, and require that all prescriptions are accompanied by a  physician's or dentist's written instructions.   Further, any employee who administers medications in schools must be trained and supervised.

 

Currently, there is no complaint or disciplinary mechanism to sanction an unlicenced employee who improperly dispenses oral medications or mishandles other health-related duties in school settings.  In recent years, proposed legislation to regulate school health aides resulted in a sunrise review through the Department of Health.  The conclusion reached by the review process was that school health aides should be subject to the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

 

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Any person practicing as a school health aide must register with the Department of Health.  School health aides may dispense medications and perform clean intermittent catheterization under the supervision and following delegation by a registered nurse. The Department of Health is authorized to adopt rules to implement the registration of school health aides.  As a result of registration, school health aides are subject to the provisions of the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Language providing for training requirements for registered school health aides was eliminated.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

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

 

Testimony For:  School health aides are responsible for dispensing potent medications.  Their activities should be subject to the state's Uniform Disciplinary Act. Concerns:  The cost of registration is too high to require of people receiving minimum wage.  Classified school employees don't want the responsibility of dispensing medications.

 

Testimony Against:  None.

 

Testified:  PRO:  Paula Meyer, Steve Boruchowitz, DOH; Jeanne Baranksi, Ann Simons, School Nurse Organization of WA; CONCERNS: Judy Maire, OSPI; Doug Nelson, PSE.