Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOE HOWARTH
District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Requires school district monitoring system, New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC), to include assessment of number of district employees trained in administration of epinephrine to students for anaphylaxis.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum and supplementing P.L.1975, c.212 (C.18A:7A-3 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The quality performance indicators adopted pursuant to section 10 of P.L.1975, c.212 (C.18A:7A-10) for the operations component of school district effectiveness shall include an assessment of the number of school district employees trained in the administration of epinephrine via a pre-filled auto-injector mechanism to a pupil for anaphylaxis. The following point values shall be assigned: 0 points for less than 25 percent of school district employees trained; .5 points for 25 percent to 50 percent of school district employees trained; 1 point for 50 percent to 75 percent of school district employees trained; and 1.5 points for 75 percent or more of school district employees trained.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first be applicable to the first school year next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
Under the State's school district monitoring program, the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC), school districts are evaluated in five key components of school district effectiveness: instruction and program; personnel; fiscal management; operations; and governance. A district's performance is measured by assigning point values to quality performance indicators, which are the specific, objective criteria applicable to a particular component of school district effectiveness.
This bill requires that the qualify performance indicators under the operations component of school district effectiveness must include an assessment of the number of school district employees trained in the administration of epinephrine via a pre-filled auto-injector mechanism to a pupil for anaphylaxis. The bill includes the following specific point values which must be assigned, depending on the percent of school district employees who are trained: 0 points for less than 25 percent of school district employees trained; .5 points for 25 percent to 50 percent of school district employees trained; 1 point for 50 percent to 75 percent of school district employees trained; and 1.5 points for 75 percent or more of school district employees trained.
Under current law, section 2 of P.L.1997, c.368 (C.18A:40-12.6), the school nurse has the primary responsibility for the administration of epinephrine, but the law also requires the school nurse to designate additional employees who volunteer to administer the medication and who have been properly trained in the administration of the medication. This bill, by allowing the district to earn additional points in its NJQSAC review, is designed to provide an incentive for districts to increase the number of school district employees trained in the administration of epinephrine.