Outline of the state of Connecticut
State
Connecticut
Addressed

Category
Chronic Conditions—Allergy Plan

Category
Chronic Conditions—Allergy Plan

State law addresses allergy plans.

General Statutes of Connecticut Sec. 10-212a. Administration of medications in schools at athletic events and to children in school readiness programs

(3) (c) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, determined to be necessary by the board to carry out the provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, regulations that (1) specify conditions under which a coach of intramural and interscholastic athletics may administer medicinal preparations, including controlled drugs specified in the regulations adopted by the commissioner, to a child participating in such intramural and interscholastic athletics, (2) specify conditions and procedures for the administration of medication by school personnel to students, including the conditions and procedures for the storage and administration of epinephrine by school personnel to students for the purpose of emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reactions and who do not have a prior written authorization for the administration of epinephrine, in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, and (3) specify conditions for self-administration of medication by students, including permitting a child diagnosed with: (A) Asthma to retain possession of an asthmatic inhaler at all times while attending school for prompt treatment of the child’s asthma and to protect the child against serious harm or death provided a written authorization for self-administration of medication signed by the child’s parent or guardian and an authorized prescriber is submitted to the school nurse; and (B) an allergic condition to retain possession of an automatic prefilled cartridge injector or similar automatic injectable equipment at all times while attending school for prompt treatment of the child’s allergic condition and to protect the child against serious harm or death provided a written authorization for self-administration of medication signed by the child’s parent or guardian and an authorized prescriber is submitted to the school nurse. The regulations shall require authorization pursuant to: (i) The written order of a physician licensed to practice medicine in this or another state, a dentist licensed to practice dental medicine in this or another state, an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 378, a physician assistant licensed under chapter 370, a podiatrist licensed under chapter 375, or an optometrist licensed under chapter 380; and (ii) the written authorization of a parent or guardian of such child.

Policy Type
Statute

General Statutes of Connecticut Sec. 10-212a. Administration of medications in schools at athletic events and to children in school readiness programs

(d) (1) (A) With the written authorization of a student’s parent or guardian, and (B) pursuant to the written order of a qualified medical professional, a school nurse and a school medical advisor, if any, may jointly approve and provide general supervision to an identified school paraprofessional to administer medication, including, but not limited to, medication administered with a cartridge injector, to a specific student with a medically diagnosed allergic condition that may require prompt treatment in order to protect the student against serious harm or death.

Policy Type
Statute

General Statutes of Connecticut Sec. 10-212c. Life-threatening food allergies and glycogen storage disease: Guidelines; district plans.

(a) (1) Not later than July 1, 2012, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Public Health, shall develop guidelines for the management of students with life-threatening food allergies and glycogen storage disease. The Department of Education shall make the guidelines available to each local and regional board of education. The guidelines shall include, but need not be limited to: (A) Education and training for school personnel on the management of students with life-threatening food allergies and glycogen storage disease, including training related to the administration of medication with a cartridge injector pursuant to subsection (d) of section 10-212a, and the provision of food or dietary supplements, (B) procedures for responding to life-threatening allergic reactions to food, (C) a process for the development of individualized health care and food allergy action plans for every student with a life-threatening food allergy, (D) a process for the development of individualized health care and glycogen storage disease action plans for every student with glycogen storage disease and such plan shall include, but not be limited to, the provision of food or dietary supplements by the school nurse, or any school employee approved by the school nurse, to a student with glycogen storage disease provided such plan shall not prohibit a parent or guardian, or a person designated by such parent or guardian, to provide food or dietary supplements to a student with glycogen storage disease on school grounds during the school day, and (E) protocols to prevent exposure to food allergens.

(2) Not later than January 1, 2020, in addition to the requirements in subdivision (1) of this subsection, the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall revise such guidelines to include (A) training for the identification and evaluation of students with life-threatening food allergies or glycogen storage disease, and (B) protocols that comply with the protections and accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 USC 1400 et seq., as amended from time to time, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 USC 12101 et seq.

(3) Not later than January 1, 2020, and biennially thereafter, the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, shall review and update as the Commissioner of Education deems necessary, the guidelines for the management of students with life-threatening food allergies and glycogen storage disease. The department shall make any such updated guidelines available to each local and regional board of education.

(b) Not later than August 15, 2012, each local and regional board of education shall: (1) Implement a plan based on the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section for the management of students with life-threatening food allergies and glycogen storage disease enrolled in the schools under its jurisdiction; (2) make such plan available on such board's Internet web site or the Internet web site of each school under such board's jurisdiction, or if such Internet web site does not exist, make such plan publicly available through other practicable means as determined by such board; and (3) provide notice of such plan in conjunction with the annual written statement provided to parents and guardians as required by subsection (b) of section 10-231c. The superintendent of schools for each school district shall annually attest to the Department

Policy Type
Statute

Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies Sec. 10-212a-2. Administration of medications

(4) develop with the advice and approval of the school medical advisor, if any, or other qualified licensed physician, and the school nurse supervisor, specific written policies and procedures for the administration of epinephrine as emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reactions and who do not have a prior written authorization of a parent or guardian or prior written order of a qualified medical professional for the administration of epinephrine, such policies and procedures to include provision for:

  • (A) the administration of epinephrine as emergency first aid by the school nurse or, when the school nurse is absent or unavailable, by a qualified school employee who has completed the training required by Section 10-212a of the Connecticut General Statutes;

  • (B) the determination of the level of nursing services and number of qualified school employees needed to ensure that there is a school nurse or at least one such qualified school employee who has completed the training required by Section 10-212a of the Connecticut General Statutes on the grounds of each school in the district during regular school hours in the absence of a school nurse;

  • (C) the determination of the supply of epinephrine in cartridge injectors that shall be available in each school in the district;

  • (D) the selection of qualified school employees by a school nurse or a school principal from employees who voluntarily agree to complete the training required by Section 10-212a of the Connecticut General Statutes and to administer epinephrine as emergency first aid;

  • (E) a mechanism to ensure communication to one or more qualified school employees and other staff that the school nurse is absent or unavailable and that a qualified school employee shall be responsible for the emergency administration of epinephrine;

  • (F) a mechanism to ensure that persons who will administer epinephrine as emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reactions but who do not have a prior written authorization of a parent or guardian or prior written order of a qualified medical professional for the administration of epinephrine, are notified of the students whose parents have refused the emergency administration of epinephrine; and

  • (G) the determination of the regular school hours for each school within its jurisdiction; and

(5) review and revise, with the advice and approval of the school medical advisor, if any, or other qualified licensed physician and the school nurse supervisor, the policies and procedures concerning the administration of medications as needed, but at least biennially.

Policy Type
Regulation

Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies Sec. 10-212a-2. Administration of medications

(4) develop with the advice and approval of the school medical advisor, if any, or other qualified licensed physician, and the school nurse supervisor, specific written policies and procedures for the administration of epinephrine as emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reactions and who do not have a prior written authorization of a parent or guardian or prior written order of a qualified medical professional for the administration of epinephrine, such policies and procedures to include provision for:

  • (A) the administration of epinephrine as emergency first aid by the school nurse or, when the school nurse is absent or unavailable, by a qualified school employee who has completed the training required by Section 10-212a of the Connecticut General Statutes;

  • (B) the determination of the level of nursing services and number of qualified school employees needed to ensure that there is a school nurse or at least one such qualified school employee who has completed the training required by Section 10-212a of the Connecticut General Statutes on the grounds of each school in the district during regular school hours in the absence of a school nurse;

  • (C) the determination of the supply of epinephrine in cartridge injectors that shall be available in each school in the district;

  • (D) the selection of qualified school employees by a school nurse or a school principal from employees who voluntarily agree to complete the training required by Section 10-212a of the Connecticut General Statutes and to administer epinephrine as emergency first aid;

  • (E) a mechanism to ensure communication to one or more qualified school employees and other staff that the school nurse is absent or unavailable and that a qualified school employee shall be responsible for the emergency administration of epinephrine;

  • (F) a mechanism to ensure that persons who will administer epinephrine as emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reactions but who do not have a prior written authorization of a parent or guardian or prior written order of a qualified medical professional for the administration of epinephrine, are notified of the students whose parents have refused the emergency administration of epinephrine; and

  • (G) the determination of the regular school hours for each school within its jurisdiction; and

(5) review and revise, with the advice and approval of the school medical advisor, if any, or other qualified licensed physician and the school nurse supervisor, the policies and procedures concerning the administration of medications as needed, but at least biennially.

Policy Type
Regulation

Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies Sec. 10-212a-4. Self administration of medications

The Board of Education shall permit those students who have a verified chronic medical condition and are deemed capable to self-administer prescribed emergency medication, including rescue asthma inhalers and cartridge injectors for medically-diagnosed allergies, to self-administer such medication, and may permit such students to self- administer other medications, excluding controlled drugs as defined in Section 10-212a-1 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, provided:

(a) An authorized prescriber provides a written medication order including the recommendation for self-administration;

(b) a parent or guardian or eligible student provides written authorization for self-administration of medications;

(c) (1) the school nurse has assessed the student's competency for self-administration in the school setting and deemed it to be safe and appropriate including that a student:

  • (A) is capable of identifying and selecting the appropriate medication by size, color, amount, or other label identification;

  • (B) knows the frequency and time of day for which the medication is ordered;

  • (C) can identify the presenting symptoms that require medication;

  • (D) administers the medication appropriately;

  • (E) maintains safe control of the medication at all times;

  • (F) seeks adult supervision whenever warranted; and

  • (G) cooperates with the established medication plan.

  • (2) in the case of inhalers for asthma and cartridge injectors for medically-diagnosed allergies, the school nurse's review of a student's competency to self-administer inhalers for asthma and cartridge injectors for medically-diagnosed allergies in the school setting shall not be used to prevent a student from retaining and self-administering inhalers for asthma and cartridge injectors for medically-diagnosed allergies. Students may self-administer medication with only the written authorization of an authorized prescriber and written authorization from a student's parent or guardian or eligible student;

(d) the school nurse has:

  • (1) reviewed the medication order and parental authorization;

  • (2) developed an appropriate plan for self-administration, including provisions for general supervision; and

  • (3) documented the medication plan in the student's or participant's health record

Policy Type
Regulation