Chapter 118

118.258 118.258 Electronic communication devices prohibited.

118.258(1) (1) Each school board may adopt rules prohibiting a pupil from using or possessing an electronic communication device while on premises owned or rented by or under the control of a public school.

118.258(2) (2) Annually, if the school board adopts rules under sub. (1), it shall provide each pupil enrolled in the school district with a copy of the rules.

118.258 History History: 1989 a. 121; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 220.

118.26 118.26 Claim against school district. No action may be brought or maintained against a school district upon a claim or cause of action unless the claimant complies with s. 893.80. This section does not apply to actions commenced under s. 19.37, 19.97 or 281.99.

118.26 History History: 1977 c. 285; 1979 c. 323 s. 33; 1995 a. 158; 1997 a. 27.

118.26 Annotation Vocational, technical, and adult education [now technical college] districts are school districts under this section. Binder v. City of Madison, 72 Wis. 2d 613, 241 N.W.2d 613 (1976).

118.27 118.27 Gifts and grants.

118.27(1) (1) In this section, “community foundation” means a charitable organization, described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code, dedicated to encouraging and assisting charitable activities and enterprises in a designated community in this state and having expertise in finance, fund development, and grantmaking.

118.27(2) (2) The school board of a district may receive, accept, and use gifts or grants of furniture, books, equipment, supplies, moneys, securities, or other property, real or personal, used or useful for school research and educational purposes. All moneys received as gifts or grants shall be placed in the school district treasury but shall be considered segregated trust funds. Whenever a school board receives gifts or grants under this section, it shall make such use thereof, or invest the same in the case of moneys, as the donor or grantor specifies. In the absence of any specific direction as to the use of such gifts or grants by a donor or grantor, the school board may determine the use of or invest the same in accordance with the law applicable to trust investments, or may, subject to sub. (3), transfer any such gift or grant to a community foundation. In the use, control, or investment of such gifts or grants, the school board may exercise the rights and powers generally conferred upon trustees.

118.27(3) (3) A school board may transfer a gift or grant to a community foundation only if the school board and the community foundation agree, in writing and at the time of the transfer of the gift or grant, to each of the following:

118.27(3)(a) (a) The community foundation agrees to make disbursements from and of the gift or grant to the school board upon the written request of the school board.

118.27(3)(b) (b) Subject to par. (bm), the school board retains control over the manner in which any disbursement made under par. (a) is used.

118.27(3)(bm) (bm) The school board’s use of any disbursement made under par. (a) shall be consistent with the intent of the donor of the gift, bequest, or endowment and with the agreement between the school board and the community foundation.

118.27(3)(c) (c) The school board exercises its rights over the use of each disbursement made under par. (a) in accordance with the law applicable to trust investments.

118.27 History History: 2011 a. 163.

118.27 Annotation Except for moneys transferred under s. 66.30 (2m) (e) [now s. 36.11 (19) (e)], a district must act as trustee of moneys received under this section. 74 Atty. Gen. 45.

118.28 118.28 Community action agencies. The school board of a school district may appropriate funds for promoting and assisting any community action agency under s. 49.37, 1997 stats.

118.28 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1983 a. 27 s. 2200 (20); 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 185.

118.29 118.29 Administration of drugs and emergency care.

118.29(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

118.29(1)(a) (a) “Administer” means the direct application of a nonprescription drug product or prescription drug, whether by injection, ingestion or other means, to the human body.

118.29(1)(b) (b) “Drug” means any substance recognized as a drug in the official U.S. pharmacopoeia and national formulary or official homeopathic pharmacopoeia of the United States or any supplement to either of them.

118.29(1)(bg) (bg) “Drug product” means a specific drug or drugs in a specific dosage form and strength from a known source of manufacture.

118.29(1)(br) (br) “Epinephrine delivery system” means a device that is approved by the federal food and drug administration, that contains a premeasured dose of epinephrine, and that is used to administer epinephrine into the human body to prevent or treat a life-threatening allergic reaction.

118.29(1)(c) (c) “Health care professional” means a person licensed as an emergency medical services practitioner under s. 256.15, a person certified as an emergency medical responder under s. 256.15 (8) or any person licensed, certified, permitted or registered under chs. 441 or 446 to 449.

118.29(1)(d) (d) “High degree of negligence” means criminal negligence, as defined in s. 939.25 (1).

118.29(1)(dm) (dm) “Nonprescription drug product” means any nonnarcotic drug product which may be sold without a prescription order and which is prepackaged for use by consumers and labeled in accordance with the requirements of state and federal law.

118.29(1)(dr) (dr) “Opioid antagonist” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (13v).

118.29(1)(dt) (dt) “Opioid-related drug overdose” has the meaning given in s. 256.40 (1) (d).

118.29(1)(e) (e) “Practitioner” means any physician, naturopathic doctor, dentist, optometrist, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse prescriber, or podiatrist licensed in any state.

118.29(1)(f) (f) “Prescription drug” has the meaning specified in s. 450.01 (20).

118.29(2) (2) Authority to administer drugs; civil liability exemption.

118.29(2)(a) (a) Notwithstanding chs. 441, 447, 448, and 450, a school bus operator validly authorized under ss. 343.12 and 343.17 (3) (c) to operate the school bus he or she is operating, any school employee or volunteer, county children with disabilities education board employee or volunteer or cooperative educational service agency employee or volunteer authorized in writing by the administrator of the school district, the board or the agency, respectively, or by a school principal, any private school employee or volunteer authorized in writing by a private school administrator or private school principal, and any tribal school employee or volunteer authorized in writing by a tribal school administrator or tribal school principal:

118.29(2)(a)1. 1.

118.29(2)(a)1.a. a. Except as provided in subd. 1. b., may administer any nonprescription drug product which may lawfully be sold over the counter without a prescription to a pupil in compliance with the written instructions of the pupil’s parent or guardian if the pupil’s parent or guardian consents in writing. If the nonprescription drug product is supplied by the pupil’s parent or guardian, the nonprescription drug product shall be supplied in the original manufacturer’s package, and the package must list the ingredients and recommended therapeutic dose in a legible format.

118.29(2)(a)1.b. b. May administer a nonprescription drug product to a pupil in a dosage other than the recommended therapeutic dose only if the request to do so is accompanied by the written approval of the pupil’s practitioner.

118.29(2)(a)2. 2. May administer a prescription drug to a pupil in compliance with the written instructions of a practitioner if the pupil’s parent or guardian consents in writing; the prescription drug is supplied in the original pharmacy-labeled package; and the package specifies the name of the pupil, the name of the prescriber, the name of the prescription drug, the dose, the effective date, and the directions in a legible format.

118.29(2)(a)2g. 2g. May administer an opioid antagonist to any pupil or other person who appears to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose if, as soon as practicable, the school bus operator, employee, or volunteer reports the drug overdose by dialing the telephone number “911” or, in an area in which the telephone number “911” is not available, the telephone number for an emergency medical service provider.

118.29(2)(a)2m. 2m. Except for epinephrine administered under subd. 2., may use an epinephrine delivery system to administer epinephrine to any pupil who appears to be experiencing a severe allergic reaction if, as soon as practicable, the school bus operator, employee or volunteer reports the allergic reaction by dialing the telephone number “911” or, in an area in which the telephone number “911” is not available, the telephone number for an emergency medical service provider.

118.29(2)(a)2r. 2r. Except for glucagon administered under subd. 2., may administer glucagon to any pupil who the school bus driver, employee, or volunteer knows is diabetic and who appears to be experiencing a severe low blood sugar event with altered consciousness if, as soon as practicable, the school bus operator, employee, or volunteer reports the event by dialing the telephone number “911” or, in an area in which the telephone number “911” is not available, the telephone number for an emergency medical service provider.

118.29(2)(a)3. 3. Subject to sub. (4m), is immune from civil liability for his or her acts or omissions in administering a nonprescription drug product or prescription drug to a pupil under subd. 1., 2., 2m., or 2r. or to a pupil or other person under subd. 2g. unless the act is in violation of sub. (6) or the act or omission constitutes a high degree of negligence. This subdivision does not apply to health care professionals.

118.29(2)(b) (b) Subject to sub. (4m), any school district administrator, county children with disabilities education board administrator, cooperative educational service agency administrator, public, private, or tribal school principal, or private or tribal school administrator who authorizes an employee or volunteer to administer a nonprescription drug product or prescription drug to a pupil under par. (a) is immune from civil liability for the act of authorization unless it constitutes a high degree of negligence or the administrator or principal authorizes a person who has not received the required training under sub. (6) to administer a nonprescription drug product or prescription drug to a pupil.

118.29(3) (3) Emergency care; civil liability exemption. Any school bus operator validly authorized under ss. 343.12 and 343.17 (3) (c) to operate the school bus he or she is operating and any public, private, or tribal school employee or volunteer, county children with disabilities education board employee or volunteer, or cooperative educational service agency employee or volunteer, other than a health care professional, who in good faith renders emergency care to a pupil of a public, private, or tribal school is immune from civil liability for his or her acts or omissions in rendering such emergency care. The immunity from civil liability provided under this subsection is in addition to and not in lieu of that provided under s. 895.48 (1).

118.29(4) (4) Written policies. Any school board, county children with disabilities education board, cooperative educational service agency or governing body of a private school whose employees or volunteers may be authorized to administer nonprescription drug products or prescription drugs to pupils under this section shall adopt a written policy governing the administration of nonprescription drug products and prescription drugs to pupils. In developing the policy, the school board, board, agency or governing body shall seek the assistance of one or more school nurses who are employees of the school board, board, agency or governing body or are providing services or consultation under s. 121.02 (1) (g). The policy shall include procedures for obtaining and filing in the school or other appropriate facility the written instructions and consent required under sub. (2) (a), for the periodic review of such written instructions by a registered nurse who is licensed under s. 441.06 or who holds a multistate license, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (h), issued in a party state, as defined in s. 441.51 (2) (k), for the storing of nonprescription drug products and prescription drugs, and for record keeping, including documenting the administration of each dose, including errors.

118.29(4m) (4m) Applicability to tribal school employees. The immunity under sub. (2) applies to a tribal school employee, administrator, or volunteer only if the governing body of the tribal school has adopted a written policy that complies with sub. (4).

118.29(5) (5) Exemption. No employee except a health care professional may be required to administer a nonprescription drug product or prescription drug to a pupil under this section by any means other than ingestion.

118.29(6) (6) Training.

118.29(6)(a) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (2) (a) 1. to 2r., and subject to pars. (b) and (c), no school bus driver, employee, or volunteer may administer any of the following nonprescription drug products or prescription drugs unless he or she has received training, approved by the department, in administering these nonprescription drug products and prescription drugs:

118.29(6)(a)1. 1. A nonprescription drug product or prescription drug product that must be injected into a pupil.

118.29(6)(a)2. 2. A nonprescription drug product or prescription drug product that must be inhaled by a pupil.

118.29(6)(a)3. 3. A nonprescription drug product or prescription drug product that must be rectally administered to a pupil.

118.29(6)(a)4. 4. A nonprescription drug product or prescription drug product that must be administered into a nasogastric tube.

118.29(6)(a)5. 5. A nonprescription drug product or prescription drug product that must be administered into a gastrostomy tube.

118.29(6)(a)6. 6. A nonprescription drug product or prescription drug product that must be administered into a jejunostomy tube.

118.29(6)(b) (b) This subsection does not apply to health care professionals.

118.29(6)(c) (c) The training required under par. (a) need not be approved by the department when the training is completed by a school bus driver that transports only pupils enrolled in a private school, an employee of a private school, or a volunteer in or for a private school.

118.29 History History: 1983 a. 334; 1985 a. 146 s. 8; 1985 a. 218; 1987 a. 14, 399; 1989 a. 56, 102, 105; 1991 a. 103; 1997 a. 164; 1999 a. 56, 126; 2001 a. 16, 83; 2007 a. 130; 2009 a. 160, 302; 2011 a. 86, 260; 2017 a. 12, 29, 135; 2021 a. 130, 218; 2023 a. 27.

118.291 118.291 Asthmatic pupils; possession and use of inhalers.

118.291(1g) (1g) In this section:

118.291(1g)(a) (a) “Asthma” means a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, characterized by airway obstruction, which is at least partially reversible and which manifests as increased bronchial responsiveness to a variety of stimuli.

118.291(1g)(b) (b) “School” includes a public, private, and tribal school.

118.291(1r) (1r) While in school, at a school-sponsored activity or under the supervision of a school authority, an asthmatic pupil may possess and use a metered dose inhaler or dry powder inhaler if all of the following are true:

118.291(1r)(a) (a) The pupil uses the inhaler before exercise to prevent the onset of asthmatic symptoms or uses the inhaler to alleviate asthmatic symptoms.

118.291(1r)(b) (b) The pupil has the written approval of the pupil’s physician and, if the pupil is a minor, the written approval of the pupil’s parent or guardian.

118.291(1r)(c) (c) The pupil has provided the school principal with a copy of the approval or approvals under par. (b).

118.291(2) (2) 

118.291(2)(a) (a) No school district, school board or school district employee is civilly liable for injury to a pupil caused by a school district employee who prohibits a pupil from using an inhaler because of the employee’s good faith belief that the requirements of sub. (1r) had not been satisfied or who allows a pupil to use an inhaler because of the employee’s good faith belief that the requirements of sub. (1r) had been satisfied.

118.291(2)(b) (b) No private school or private school employee is civilly liable for injury to a pupil caused by a private school employee who prohibits a pupil from using an inhaler because of the employee’s good faith belief that the requirements of sub. (1r) had not been satisfied or who allows a pupil to use an inhaler because of the employee’s good faith belief that the requirements of sub. (1r) had been satisfied.

118.291(2)(c) (c) No tribal school or tribal school employee is civilly liable for injury to a pupil caused by a tribal school employee who prohibits a pupil from using an inhaler because of the employee’s good faith belief that the requirements of sub. (1r) had not been satisfied or who allows a pupil to use an inhaler because of the employee’s good faith belief that the requirements of sub. (1r) had been satisfied.

118.291 History History: 1997 a. 77; 2005 a. 398; 2009 a. 302.

118.2915 118.2915 Asthma in schools; use of short-acting bronchodilators.

118.2915(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

118.2915(1)(a) (a) “Advanced practice nurse prescriber” means an advanced practice nurse who is certified under s. 441.16.

118.2915(1)(b) (b) “Asthma” means a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, characterized by airway obstruction, which is at least partially reversible and which manifests as increased bronchial responsiveness to a variety of stimuli.

118.2915(1)(c) (c) “Designated school personnel” means employees, agents, or volunteers of a school, designated by the governing body of the school, who have completed the training specified in the plan adopted by the governing body of the school under sub. (2) (a).

118.2915(1)(d) (d) “Pharmacist” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (15).

118.2915(1)(e) (e) “Physician” means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery under ch. 448.

118.2915(1)(f) (f) “Physician assistant” means a person licensed under s. 448.974.

118.2915(1)(g) (g) “School” means a public, private, or tribal school.

118.2915(1)(h) (h) “Self-administer” means to administer a short-acting bronchodilator to one’s own body.

118.2915(1)(i) (i) “Short-acting bronchodilator” means any beta-2 agonist, such as albuterol, used for the quick relief of asthma symptoms. “Short-acting bronchodilator” includes an orally inhaled medication that contains a premeasured single dose of albuterol or albuterol sulfate delivered by a nebulizer or by a pressurized metered-dose inhaler.

118.2915(2) (2) School plan.

118.2915(2)(a) (a) The governing body of a school may adopt a plan for the management of pupils attending the school who have asthma. If the governing body of a school adopts a plan under this paragraph, it shall specify in the plan the training necessary to perform the activities under sub. (4). The governing body of a school may not adopt a plan under this paragraph unless the plan has been approved by a physician, an advanced practice nurse prescriber, or a physician assistant.

118.2915(2)(b) (b) The governing body of a school that has adopted a plan under par. (a) shall make the plan available on the governing body’s website or the website of each school under its jurisdiction or, if such a website does not exist, give a copy of the plan to any person upon request.

118.2915(3) (3) Prescriptions and supply.

118.2915(3)(a) (a) A physician, an advanced practice nurse prescriber, or a physician assistant may provide a prescription or standing order for a short-acting bronchodilator or components in the name of a school that has adopted a plan under sub. (2) (a) to be maintained by the school for use under sub. (4).

118.2915(3)(b) (b) The governing body of a school that has a valid prescription under par. (a) may accept as a donation a short-acting bronchodilator or components if the donated short-acting bronchodilator or components are new, unexpired, manufacturer-sealed, not subject to recall, unadulterated, and in compliance with regulations promulgated by the federal food and drug administration.

118.2915(3)(c) (c) The governing body of a school that has adopted a plan under sub. (2) (a) may obtain a prescription or standing order for a short-acting bronchodilator or components and may acquire and maintain, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, a supply of short-acting bronchodilators and components.