BILL REQ. #:  S-3137.2 

Read first time 01/16/14.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education.

     AN ACT Relating to the delivery of medication and services by unlicensed school employees; adding a new section to chapter 28A.210 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   Students in public schools are bringing more health conditions to school at the same time school districts are reducing nursing services. As a result, school districts are becoming more dependent upon unlicensed, minimally trained, and many times unwilling classified employees to provide these services.
     Over the years, unlicensed employees have sought and received legislative approval for protections from employer reprisal if they refuse to deliver nursing services and liability protections if they provide nursing services that harm a student. It is clear that unlicensed employees will be expected to deliver new medications and nursing services not currently recognized in state law to students in the future.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.210 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning July 1, 2014, a school district employee not licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW who is asked to administer medications or perform nursing services not previously recognized in law shall at the time he or she is asked to administer the medication or perform the nursing service file, without coercion by the employer, a voluntary written, current, and unexpired letter of intent stating the employee's willingness to administer the new medication or nursing service. It is understood that the letter of intent will expire if the conditions of acceptance are substantially changed. If a school employee who is not licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW chooses not to file a letter under this section, the employee is not subject to any employer reprisal or disciplinary action for refusing to file a letter.
     (2) In the event a school employee provides the medication or service to a student in substantial compliance with (a) rules adopted by the state nursing care quality assurance commission and the instructions of a registered nurse or advanced registered nurse practitioner issued under such rules, and (b) written policies of the school district or private school, then the employee, the employee's school district or school of employment, and the members of the governing board and chief administrator thereof are not liable in any criminal action or for civil damages in his or her individual, marital, governmental, corporate, or other capacity as a result of providing the medication or service.
     (3) The board of directors shall designate a professional person licensed under chapter 18.71, 18.57, or 18.79 RCW as it applies to registered nurses and advanced registered nurse practitioners to consult and coordinate with the student's parents and health care provider, and train and supervise the appropriate school district personnel in proper procedures to ensure a safe, therapeutic learning environment. School employees must receive the training provided under this subsection before they are authorized to deliver the service or medication. Such training must be provided, where necessary, on an ongoing basis to ensure that the proper procedures are not forgotten because the services or medication are delivered infrequently.