Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 6 - EDUCATION (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-87-104) › Subtitle 2 - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION GENERALLY (§§ 6-10-101 — 6-28-206) › Chapter 18 - STUDENTS (§§ 6-18-101 — 6-18-2608) › Subchapter 7 - HEALTH (§§ 6-18-701 — 6-18-723) › Section 6-18-718 - Administration of medication for adrenal insufficiency or adrenal crisis - Definitions

(a)
(1)
Self-administration of a stress dose medication by a public school student with adrenal insufficiency while the student is at his or her public school, on his or her public school grounds, or at an activity related to his or her public school may be permitted with the authorization of the public school student's parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis and the public school student's treating physician if the public school student's parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis provides written authorization for the public school student to carry a stress dose medication while he or she is at public school, an on-site school-related activity, or an off-site school-sponsored activity.
(2)
The written authorization provided under subdivision (a)(1) of this section shall be:
(A)
Valid only for the duration of the school year for which it is provided; and
(B)
Renewed:
(i)
For each subsequent school year for which the parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis intends to authorize the self-administration of a stress dose medication; and
(ii)
If the public school student transfers to another public school in this state.
(3)
A parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis who provides written authorization under subdivision (a)(1) of this section shall:
(A)
Include with his or her written authorization written orders from his or her public school student's treating physician that the public school student:
(i)
Is capable of completing the proper method of self-administration of the stress dose medication; and
(ii)
Has been instructed on the details of his or her medical condition and the events that may lead to an adrenal crisis; and
(B)
Sign an individualized healthcare plan developed by the school nurse for the public school in which his or her child with an adrenal insufficiency is enrolled that outlines the plan of care for his or her child and includes without limitation notification of the self-administration of a stress dose medication to the:
(i)
School nurse;
(ii)
Teacher of the class in which the public school student is enrolled during an adrenal crisis; and
(iii)
Administrator of the public school.
(b)
A parent, legal guardian, or person standing in loco parentis who provides written authorization for his or her child's self-administration of a stress dose medication shall sign a statement:
(1)
Acknowledging the public school district is not liable as a result of any injury arising from the self-administration of a stress dose medication by the public school student; and
(2)
Indemnifying and holding harmless the public school employees and public school district in which his or her child is enrolled against any claims arising as a result of the self-administration of a stress dose medication by the public school student.
(c)
As used in this section:
(1)
"Adrenal crisis" means a sudden, severe worsening of symptoms associated with adrenal insufficiency, which can lead to circulatory collapse, heart and organ failure, brain damage, and death;
(2)
(A)
"Adrenal insufficiency" means a chronic medical condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the necessary hormones to respond to stressors such as illness and injury.
(B)
The hormones involved help maintain and regulate key functions of the body such as blood pressure, metabolism, the immune system, and how the body responds to stress; and
(3)
"Stress dose medication" means oral hydrocortisone.
Added by Act 2021, No. 1050,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021.