§ 16-21-22. Allergic emergencies — Anaphylaxis — Use of epinephrine — Immunity for those administering.
(a) The department of elementary and secondary education and the department of health
shall incorporate into their policies, rules, and regulations pertaining to school
health programs a procedure for addressing incidents of anaphylaxis (exaggerated allergic
reaction) in order to provide for the health and safety of children who have been
medically identified as being prone to anaphylaxis or who show evidence of anaphylaxis.
The policies, rules, and regulations shall include a procedure whereby a parent or
legal guardian of any child may expressly authorize the school department and school
bus drivers and monitors to administer the epinephrine on his or her child in case
of an emergency and ensures that the epinephrine is kept in a conspicuous place, readily
available, and that their proper use is made known to school personnel. School bus
drivers and monitors shall receive training in the administration of epinephrine.
To treat a case of anaphylaxis, trained school bus drivers and/or monitors shall administer
the epinephrine auto-injector to an identified student.
(b) The policies, rules, and regulations shall also include a procedure to allow children
to carry and use prescription inhalers, and auto-injectable epinephrine, while in
school, at a school-sanctioned function or event, or in transit to and from school
or school-sanctioned function or event by the school bus service provider; when prescribed
by a licensed individual with prescriptive privileges. Children who need to carry
prescription inhalers and/or auto-injectable epinephrine shall provide the school
and the school bus service provider with medical documentation that the inhaler and/or
auto-injectable epinephrine has been legitimately prescribed and that the child needs
to carry it on his or her person due to a medical condition, but no child shall be
disciplined solely for failure to provide this documentation in advance.
(c) Parents shall provide a doctor's letter or prescription notifying the school and the
school bus service provider of their child's allergy and the need to administer epinephrine
in an allergic emergency.
(d) No school teacher, school administrator, or school healthcare personnel, school bus
driver, school bus monitor, or any other school personnel shall be liable for civil
damages which may result from acts or omissions in use of the epinephrine which may
constitute ordinary negligence; nor shall the school personnel mentioned in this subsection
be liable for civil damages which may result from acts or omissions in the use of
prescription inhalers by children which may constitute ordinary negligence. This immunity
does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton
conduct. For the purposes of determining immunity from liability under subsection
(d) only, the term "other school personnel� shall include any private entity providing
school bus services and individual school bus drivers and monitors employed or otherwise
engaged by such school bus service entities.
(e) School physicians may execute standing orders and prescriptions for school nurses
to use epinephrine when there are symptoms of anaphylaxis. The school department may
permit each school within their jurisdiction to maintain epinephrine in cartridge
injections for the purpose of emergency first aid to students who experience allergic
reactions. The department's policies, rules, and regulations shall also include the
conditions and procedures for the storage and administration of epinephrine for the
purpose of emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reactions.
(f) The student's parent or guardian is responsible for supplying and replacing, when
necessary, all prescription medication that is authorized pursuant to this section.