INFORMATIONAL

        The 1999 General Assembly passed Senate Bill 889, which 
amended and reenacted the Code of Virginia to:

* Ensure that in school buildings of 10 or more 
instructional and administrative employees there are 
at least two or more employees trained in 
administration of insulin and glucagon if there is a 
student with diabetes in attendance.

* Allow any employee of a school board with 
authorization by a prescriber and appropriately 
trained to be exempt from liability when assisting 
with the administration of insulin or administering 
glucagon in an emergency.

* Allow school board employees to refuse to obtain 
training in the administration of insulin and glucagon 
without fear of being disciplined, placed on 
probation, or dismissed, except for those employees 
employed for that purpose.

* Task the Virginia Board of Nursing to develop and 
revise, as necessary, in coordination with the Boards 
of Medicine and Education guidelines for training 
school employees in the administration of insulin and 
glucagon.

The Guidelines for Training of Public School Employees in 
the Administration of Insulin and Glucagon were developed 
and adopted by the Virginia Boards of Nursing, Medicine, 
and Education in July 1999. These guidelines should be 
followed in providing appropriate training to school 
employees who will be administrating insulin and glucagon 
to students diagnosed with diabetes.

The Manual for Training of Public School Employees in the 
Administration of Insulin and Glucagon was developed by the 
Department of Education, Office of Special Education and 
Student Services to assist school divisions in implementing 
the guidelines.  The manual is being mailed to school 
divisions under separate cover.

Should you have any questions please contact Gwen Smith, 
student health services specialist at 804-786-8671 or e-
mail gpsmith@pen.k12.va.us.

PDS/gs

Attachment:     A hard copy of this memo and its attachment     
                will be sent to the superintendent's office.




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