S-3745.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6328

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Senators Franklin and Winsley

Read first time 01/13/2000.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Requiring training for persons administering oral medications at school.

    AN ACT Relating to administration of oral medications at school; adding a new section to chapter 28A.210 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that school employees are increasingly being asked to play an expanding role in protecting children's health.  In doing so, employees are required to administer oral medications to students in schools that are potent, and potentially dangerous if improperly dispensed.  The legislature finds that training in the administration of oral medications is imperative for any school employee who administers oral medications to students during the school day.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.210 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Beginning with the 2000-01 school year, and continuing thereafter, any school employee who is in a position to administer oral medications, or who may be needed to do so at any time during the school year, and has had no specific training on the administration of oral medications, must complete a basic core training by the end of the first month of school.  The core training is intended to ensure safe and effective services for students in the administration of oral medications, and is not to be intended to be a substitute for specific training or for delegation and supervision by a school nurse or by other certified or licensed staff.

    (2) The state board of education shall adopt rules providing for ongoing training for school employees who administer oral medications, including future training requirements that provide for medications which are not administered orally.

    (3) Beginning in the 2000-01 school year, each school shall designate at least two school employees, other than the school nurse, who are responsible for the administration of oral medications to students.  This subsection does not preclude additional staff being available to provide oral medications, however no employee may be asked to provide oral medications unless properly trained under this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  This act takes effect July 1, 2000.

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