SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 54

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 14, 2021

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 54 with committee amendments.

     As amended, this bill provides that if the parent or guardian of a student with a life-threatening allergy or anaphylaxis seeks care for that student while at school, the parent or guardian must inform the certified school nurse who will develop an individualized health care plan and an individualized emergency health care plan for the student.

     This bill provides that the individualized plans will be updated by the school nurse at least annually in accordance with the annually submitted order of a student’s health care provider and as necessary in the event of a change in the student’s health status.  Each individualized health care plan is required to include, and each individualized emergency health care plan may include, the following information:

· the symptoms of an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis and the recommended treatment;

· accommodations for school trips, after-school activities, class parties, and other school-related activities;

· education of all school personnel who may come in contact with the student about allergies, how to recognize and treat allergic reactions or anaphylaxis, how to recognize allergic reactions or anaphylaxis, and when to call for assistance; and

· how to maintain communications with the student, the student's parent or guardian and health care team, the school nurse, and the educational staff.

     Under the provisions of the bill, in addition to coordinating the care at school for a particular student with life-threatening allergies or anaphylaxis, the certified school nurse will also be responsible for ensuring that appropriate staff are trained in the care of students with life-threatening allergies or anaphylaxis, including staff working with school-sponsored programs outside of the regular school day, as provided in the individualized plans.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to remove references to “severe allergy” and instead require the development of an individualized health care plan and individualized emergency health care plan for a student with life-threatening allergies or anaphylaxis whose parent or guardian seeks care for the student while at school.  The committee also amended the bill to clarify that the written authorization provided by a parent or guardian to a board of education for the provision of care is required to be consistent with the directions and recommendations of the student’s health care provider.  Lastly, the committee amended the bill to change references of “school nurse” to “certified school nurse” throughout the bill and provide that the individualized plans will be updated by the certified school nurse at least annually in accordance with the annually submitted order of a student’s health care provider.