The Florida Senate

232.46  Administration of medication by school district personnel.--

(1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of the Nurse Practice Act, chapter 464, school district personnel shall be authorized to assist students in the administration of prescription medication when the following conditions have been met:

(a)  Each district school board shall include in its approved school health services plan a procedure to provide training, by a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459, or a physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459, to the school personnel designated by the principal to assist students in the administration of prescribed medication. Such training may be provided in collaboration with other school districts, through contract with an education consortium, or by any other arrangement consistent with the intent of this section.

(b)  Each district school board shall adopt policies and procedures governing the administration of prescription medication by school district personnel. The policies and procedures shall include, but not be limited to, the following provisions:

1.  For each prescribed medication, the student's parent or guardian shall provide to the school principal a written statement which shall grant to the principal or the principal's designee permission to assist in the administration of such medication and which shall explain the necessity for such medication to be provided during the school day, including any occasion when the student is away from school property on official school business. The school principal or the principal's trained designee shall assist the student in the administration of such medication.

2.  Each prescribed medication to be administered by school district personnel shall be received, counted, and stored in its original container. When the medication is not in use, it shall be stored in its original container in a secure fashion under lock and key in a location designated by the principal.

(2)  There shall be no liability for civil damages as a result of the administration of such medication when the person administering such medication acts as an ordinarily reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances.

History.--s. 1, ch. 83-121; s. 51, ch. 85-80; s. 1279, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 96-294; s. 3, ch. 98-49.