Training of school employees for care of students with diabetic medical needs.

(a) No later than the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year, the State Department of Education, in consultation with the Alabama Board of Nursing, shall develop guidelines for the training of school employees in the care needed for students with diabetic medical needs according to the student's Individual Health Plan, the medical authorizations of which are limited to permitting the administration of injectable medications specific to his or her diabetes. No other delegation of injectable medications shall be allowed under this chapter. These guidelines shall be developed in consideration of the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Diabetes Education Program, and any other appropriate published medical guidelines. Each local board of education shall ensure that diabetes training programs are provided for all school nurses and unlicensed medication assistants at schools under its jurisdiction.

(b) Each local school system shall ensure that the training outlined in subsection (a) is provided to unlicensed medication assistants. In consultation with the local school superintendent and in consideration of a student's Individual Health Plan related to his or her diabetic condition, the lead nurse of the school system may recommend the placement of a school nurse based on the overall health needs of that student.

(c) School employees shall not be required to serve as unlicensed medication assistants, nor be subject to any penalty or disciplinary action for refusing to serve as an unlicensed medication assistant. It shall be unlawful to consider a school employee's decision to serve or not to serve as an unlicensed medication assistant in any employment decision, including, but not limited to, termination, non-renewal of contract, reduction-in-force, or transfer. Furthermore, no school administrator or supervisor shall threaten, harass, or otherwise coerce a school employee into serving as an unlicensed medication assistant.

(d) The medical authorization allowed under this chapter shall be limited to permitting the use of injectable medications specific to diabetes.

(Act 2014-437, p. 1618, §3.)