Chapter 118

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.

118.2915(4) (4) Use of bronchodilators. The governing body of a school that has adopted a plan under sub. (2) (a) may authorize a school nurse or designated school personnel to do any of the following on school premises or at a school-sponsored activity:

118.2915(4)(a) (a) Provide a short-acting bronchodilator to a pupil to self-administer the short-acting bronchodilator in accordance with a prescription specific to the pupil that is on file with the school.

118.2915(4)(b) (b) Administer a short-acting bronchodilator to a pupil in accordance with a prescription specific to the pupil that is on file with the school.

118.2915(4)(c) (c) In accordance with a prescription or standing order from a physician, an advanced practice nurse prescriber, or a physician assistant, administer a short-acting bronchodilator to a pupil or other person who the school nurse or designated school personnel believes in good faith is experiencing respiratory distress, regardless of whether the pupil or other person has a prescription for a short-acting bronchodilator.

118.2915(5) (5) Independent authority.

118.2915(5)(a) (a) The authority to self-administer a short-acting bronchodilator under sub. (4) (a) is independent of the authorized possession and use of a metered-dose inhaler or dry-powder inhaler under s. 118.291 (1r).

118.2915(5)(b) (b) The authority to administer a short-acting bronchodilator under sub. (4) (b) and (c) is independent of the authority to administer a metered-dose inhaler or dry-powder inhaler under s. 118.29 (2) (a) 2.

118.2915(6) (6) Immunity from civil liability; exemption from practice of medicine.

118.2915(6)(a) (a) None of the following are liable for any injury that results from the administration or self-administration of a short-acting bronchodilator under this section, regardless of whether authorization was given by the pupil’s parent or guardian or by the pupil’s physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse prescriber, unless the injury is the result of an act or omission that constitutes gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct:

118.2915(6)(a)1. 1. A school, its school nurse, and its designated school personnel.

118.2915(6)(a)2. 2. A physician, advanced practice nurse prescriber, or physician assistant who provides a prescription or standing order for a short-acting bronchodilator or components to a school under sub. (3) (a).

118.2915(6)(a)3. 3. A physician, advanced practice nurse prescriber, physician assistant, or pharmacist who dispenses a short-acting bronchodilator or components to a school in accordance with a prescription or standing order under sub. (3) (a).

118.2915(6)(b) (b) The immunity from liability provided under this subsection is in addition to and not in lieu of that provided under s. 895.48.

118.2915(7) (7) Health care professionals. Nothing in this section prohibits a health care professional, as defined in s. 118.29 (1) (c), from acting within the scope of practice of the health care professional’s license, certificate, permit, or registration.

118.2915 History History: 2023 a. 195.

118.292 118.292 Possession and use of epinephrine.

118.292(1g) (1g) In this section:

118.292(1g)(a) (a) “Emergency situation” means a situation in which a pupil reasonably believes that he or she is experiencing a severe allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, that requires the administration of epinephrine to avoid severe injury or death.

118.292(1g)(bg) (bg) “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.

118.292(1g)(c) (c) “School” includes a public, private, and tribal school.

118.292(1r) (1r) While in school, at a school-sponsored activity or under the supervision of a school authority, a pupil may possess and use an epinephrine delivery system if all of the following are true:

118.292(1r)(a) (a) The pupil uses the epinephrine delivery system to prevent the onset or alleviate the symptoms of an emergency situation.

118.292(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.

118.292(1r)(c) (c) The pupil has provided the school principal with a copy of the approval or approvals under par. (b).

118.292(2) (2) No school board, school district, private school, or tribal school, or any employee of the foregoing, is civilly liable for an injury incurred by any of the following:

118.292(2)(a) (a) A pupil as a result of using an epinephrine delivery system under sub. (1r).

118.292(2)(b) (b) Any person as a result of a pupil possessing or using an epinephrine delivery system under sub. (1r).

118.292 History History: 2011 a. 85; 2021 a. 218; 2023 a. 27.

118.2925 118.2925 Life-threatening allergies in schools; use of epinephrine.

118.2925(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

118.2925(1)(a) (a) “Administer” means the direct application of an epinephrine auto-injector or prefilled syringe to a person’s body.

118.2925(1)(b) (b) “Advanced practice nurse prescriber” means an advanced practice nurse who is certified under s. 441.16.

118.2925(1)(c) (c) “Designated school personnel” means an employee, agent, or volunteer of a school, designated by the governing body of the school, who has completed the training specified in the plan adopted by the governing body of the school in sub. (2) (a).

118.2925(1)(dm) (dm) “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.

118.2925(1)(e) (e) “Physician” means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery under ch. 448.

118.2925(1)(f) (f) “Physician assistant” means a person who is licensed under subch. IX of ch. 448 or who holds a compact privilege under subch. XIII of ch. 448.

118.2925(1)(g) (g) “School” means a public, private, or tribal school.

118.2925(1)(h) (h) “Self-administer” means to administer an epinephrine delivery system to one’s own body.