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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 11, 2016 04:17 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Patrick M. Browne |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Diabetes Care and Management in Schools |
| I plan to re-introduce legislation amending the Public School Code of 1949, to provide for the management of diabetes while students are in school or at school-related activities. The care of a student with diabetes requires management 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For students with Type I diabetes, and for some with Type 2 diabetes, that means monitoring blood glucose (sugar) levels through the day and the administration of insulin. Blood glucose levels that are well-managed help students avoid short-term complications of diabetes, and feel better to be more productive at school. At least 30 states allow for trained staff, in addition to a school nurse, to help with diabetes medications and testing. The legislation requires the Department of Health in consultation with the Department of Education to develop training modules and guidelines for instruction of school employees in diabetes care and treatment. It provides that the school nurse, in consultation with the school administrator, may identify a school employee, who is not a school nurse, to obtain diabetes training. The school employee selected can decline the designation. Further, the bill provides that this is not a school nurse delegation and that permission for the use of a trained staff person would be provided by the parent and child's clinician. The legislation also allows for a student to possess and self-administer diabetes medication and monitoring equipment at school if they provide: 1) a written statement from the student’s health care provider; 2) a written request from the parent or guardian; 3) demonstration of the competency of the student to satisfy the school nurse; 4) a written acknowledgment by the student that they understand the proper safety procedures. At any time a school may revoke or restrict a student’s privilege to self-administer due to noncompliance of school rules. Co-sponsors of Senate Bill 871 from last session include: Scarnati, Folmer, White, Brewster, Rafferty, Eichelberger, Vulakovich, Fontana, Tartaglione, Farnese and Teplitz. This is a companion to House Bill 1625. I hope that you will join me in cosponsoring this important legislation for students with diabetes. |
Introduced as SB1385