HB 1709 — Addressing the care of students with adrenal insufficiency by parent-designated adults.

H-1561.1H-0271.2 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1709 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Callan, Steele, Goodman, Reed, and Hill)Hill READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/21/25.01/29/25.

Referred to Committee on Education.

amending RCW 28A.210.350;

Acute severe adrenal insufficiency is a life-threatening situation that requires p.

1 SHBHB 1709 adrenal insufficiency is a life-threatening situation that requires emergency treatment with cortisol or similar medication to prevent shock or other severe complications.

(1)A Schoolparent-designated districtsadult shallmay provide individualcare health plans for students with adrenal insufficiency, subjectif toneeded. the following conditions:

(a)Requirements Thefor boardparent-designated ofadult directorseligibility, oflimitations theon schoolsupervision, district shall adopt and periodicallyrelated reviseprovisions policiesare governingprovided thein careRCW of28A.210.260(1)(h). students with adrenal insufficiency.

At a minimum, the policies must address:

(i) The acquisition of parent requests and instructions;

(ii) The acquisition of orders from licensed health professionals prescribing within the scope of their prescriptive authority for monitoring and treatment of adrenal insufficiency at school;

(iii) The provision for storage of medical equipment and medication provided by the parent;

(iv) The establishment of necessary exceptions to school policies to accommodate the specific needs of students with adrenal insufficiency, as described in the students' individual health plan;

(v) The development of emergency care plans;

(vi) The distribution of individual health plans and emergency care plans to appropriate staff based on the students' needs and staff level of contact with the student;

(vii) The possession of legal documents for parent-designated adults to provide care, if needed;

and (viii) The updating of the individual health plan at least annually;

(b) The administration of medications under the policies required in (a) of this subsection (1) must also comply with conditions outlined in RCW 28A.210.260;

and (c) The policies required by (a) of this subsection (1) may be incorporated into school district policies related broadly to students with health conditions or those concerning parent-designated adults.

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2 SHB 1709 (2)(a) Parents of a child with adrenal insufficiency who assign a parent-designated adult to care for the child shall authorize the parent-designated adult to perform procedures consistent with the child's individual health plan.

(b) Parent-designated adults must complete training selected by the child's parents in the proper procedures to care for the child, including in the administration of an emergency injection of corticosteroid during an adrenal crisis, that are consistent with the child's individual health plan.

The training may be provided by any of the following:

The child's parents, an organization that offers training for staff caring for students with adrenal insufficiency, or an organization that offers training for caretakers of children with adrenal insufficiency.

(c) To be eligible to be a parent-designated adult for a child with adrenal insufficiency, a school district employee not licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW shall file, without coercion by the employer, a voluntary written, current, and unexpired letter of intent stating the employee's willingness to be a parent-designated adult.

If a school district employee who is not licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW chooses not to file a letter under this section, the employee may not be subject to any employer reprisal or disciplinary action for refusing to file a letter.

(3)(a) For the purposes of this section, "parent-designated adult" means an adult who:

(i) Is authorized by the parents of a child with adrenal insufficiency to provide care for the child consistent with the child's individual health plan;

(ii) volunteers for the designation;

(iii) receives additional training selected by the parents;

and (iv) provides care for the child consistent with the child's individual health plan.

(b) A parent-designated adult may be a school district employee.

(4) Nothing in this section is intended to supersede or otherwise modify nurse delegation requirements established in RCW 18.79.260.

(5) This section applies beginning with the 2025-26 school year.

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RCW 28A.210.350 and 2021 c 29 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

A school district, school district employee, agent, or parent- designated adult who, acting in good faith and in substantial compliance with the student's individual health plan and the instructions of the student's licensed health care professional, p.

3 SHB 1709 provides assistance or services under RCW 28A.210.330 ((or)), 28A.210.355, or section 2 of this act shall not be liable in any criminal action or for civil damages in his or her individual or marital or governmental or corporate or other capacities as a result of the services provided under RCW 28A.210.330 to students with diabetes ((or)), under RCW 28A.210.355 to students with epilepsy or other seizure disorders, or under section 2 of this act to students with adrenal insufficiency.

42 SHBHB 1709