(a) Each school entity shall develop a written policy to allow for the possession and self-administration by children of school age of asthma inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors, and the prescribed medication to be administered thereby, in a school setting. The policy shall comply with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-112, 29U.S.C. § 794 ) and 22 Pa. Code Ch. 15 (relating to protected handicapped students). The policy shall be distributed with the code of student conduct required under 22 Pa. Code § 12.3(c) (relating to school rules) and made available on the school entity's publicly accessible Internet website, if any.

(b) The policy under this section shall require a child of school age that desires to possess and self-administer an asthma inhaler or epinephrine auto-injector in a school setting to demonstrate the capability for self-administration and for responsible behavior in the use thereof and to notify the school nurse immediately following each use of an asthma inhaler or epinephrine auto-injector. The school entity shall develop a system whereby the child may demonstrate competency to the school nurse that the child is capable of self-administration and has permission for carrying and taking the medication through the use of the asthma inhaler or epinephrine auto-injector. Determination of competency for self-administration shall be based on age, cognitive function, maturity and demonstration of responsible behavior. The school entity shall also restrict the availability of the asthma inhaler, the epinephrine auto-injector and the prescribed medication contained therein from other children of school age. The policy shall specify conditions under which a student may lose the privilege to self-carry the asthma inhaler, the epinephrine auto-injector and the medication if the school policies are abused or ignored. A school entity that prevents a student from self-carrying an asthma inhaler or epinephrine auto-injector and the prescribed medication shall ensure that they are appropriately stored at locations in close proximity to the student prohibited from self-carrying and notify the student's classroom teachers of the places where the asthma inhaler or epinephrine auto-injector and medication are to be stored and the means to access them.

(a) A school entity shall require the parent or guardian of a student with diabetes who requests that the student possess and self-administer diabetes medication and operate monitoring equipment in a school setting to provide the following:

(1) A written statement from the student's health care practitioner that provides the name of the drug, the dose, thetimes when the medication is to be taken or the monitoring equipment to be used, the specified time period for which the medication or monitoring equipment is authorized to be used and the diagnosis or reason the medicine or monitoring equipment is needed. The student's health care practitioner shall indicate the potential of any serious reaction to the medication that may occur, as well as any necessary emergency response. The student's health care practitioner shall state whether the student is competent to self-administer the medication or monitoring equipment and whether the student is able to practice proper safety precautions for the handling and disposal of the medication and monitoring equipment.

(2) A written request from the parent or guardian that the school entity comply with the instructions of the student's health care practitioner. The parent's request shall include a statement relieving the school entity or any school employe of any responsibility for the prescribed medication or monitoring equipment and acknowledging that the school entity bears no responsibility for ensuring that the medication is taken by the student and the monitoring equipment is used.

(3) A written acknowledgment by the school nurse that the student has demonstrated that the student is capable of self-administration of the medication and use of the monitoring equipment.

(4) A written acknowledgment by the student that the student has received instruction from the student's health care practitioner on proper safety precautions for the handling and disposal of the medications and monitoring equipment. The written acknowledgment shall also contain a provision stating that the student will not allow other students to have access to the medication and monitoring equipment and that the student understands appropriate safeguards.

(6) In collaboration with the advisory health councils created in section 1422,4 the department shall develop guidelines for managing life-threatening food allergies in schools which shall be published on the department's Internet website. The guidelines shall be published on the department's Internet website no later than January 31, 2011. The guidelines shall assist school districts in addressing the following:

• (i) The scope of the problem of childhood allergies and its impact on school student health.
• (ii) Types of detailed policies and protocols to help prevent allergic reaction emergencies and deaths from anaphylaxis in schools.
• (iii) The systematic planning and multidisciplinary team approach needed prior to school entry by the student with life-threatening food allergies.
• (iv) The school district staff's role and necessary training in preventing exposure to specific allergens.
• (v) Responsibilities of the parent or guardian, school staff and the student's primary care provider for notice, consentand documentation of administration of medication to a school student with a food allergy.
• (vi) Emergency response protocols should a life-threatening allergic event occur.
• (vii) The roles of specific staff members in the care of the student with a life-threatening allergic condition.

(6) In collaboration with the advisory health councils created in section 1422,4 the department shall develop guidelines for managing life-threatening food allergies in schools which shall be published on the department's Internet website. The guidelines shall be published on the department's Internet website no later than January 31, 2011. The guidelines shall assist school districts in addressing the following:

• (i) The scope of the problem of childhood allergies and its impact on school student health.
• (ii) Types of detailed policies and protocols to help prevent allergic reaction emergencies and deaths from anaphylaxis in schools.
• (iii) The systematic planning and multidisciplinary team approach needed prior to school entry by the student with life-threatening food allergies.
• (iv) The school district staff's role and necessary training in preventing exposure to specific allergens.
• (v) Responsibilities of the parent or guardian, school staff and the student's primary care provider for notice, consentand documentation of administration of medication to a school student with a food allergy.
• (vi) Emergency response protocols should a life-threatening allergic event occur.
• (vii) The roles of specific staff members in the care of the student with a life-threatening allergic condition.

"Federal law and professional nursing Standard require the development of individualized plans of care for students with special health care needs. These plans of care include: Individualized Healthcare Plans (IHP); Emergency Care Plans (ECP); Individualized Transportation Plans (ITP); Individualized Education Program with medical component (IEP); and Section 504 Service Agreements."