ARC 0648D

ARC 0648D

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT[281]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rulemaking related to school health services
and providing an opportunity for public comment

    The State Board of Education hereby proposes to amend Chapter 14, “School Health Services,” Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

    This rulemaking is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 256.7.

State or Federal Law Implemented

    This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, 2026 Iowa Acts, House Files 2670 and 2676.

Purpose and Summary

    This proposed rulemaking makes technical corrections required by 2026 Iowa Acts, House Files 2670 and 2676. The Department of Education published a Regulatory Analysis, the public comment period of which closed on September 8, 2026.

Regulatory Analysis

    A Regulatory Analysis for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on August 19, 2026. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

     ?   September 8, 2026

Fiscal Impact

     This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

    After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

    Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the State Board for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 7—Chapter 2504.

Public Comment

     Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rulemaking, which must be received by the State Board no later than 4:30 p.m. on November 3, 2026. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

     A public hearing at which persons may present their views orally or in writing will be held as follows:

    Persons who wish to make oral comments at the public hearing may be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of this proposed rulemaking.

     Any persons who intend to attend the public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the State Board and advise of specific needs.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

    The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

    The following rulemaking action is proposed:

    ITEM 1.  Amend subrule 14.1(3) as follows:

    14.1(3) A statement that authorized persons administering medication include licensed health personnel working under the auspices of the school, such as licensed registered nurses, physicians, physician associates, and persons to whom authorized practitioners have delegated the administration of prescription and nonprescription drugs (who have successfully completed a medication administration course). Individuals who have demonstrated competency in administering their own medications may self-administer their medication. Individuals may self-administer asthma or other airway constricting disease medication, use a bronchodilator canister or bronchodilator canister and spacer, or possess and have use of an epinephrine auto-injector delivery system with parent and physician (or physician associate) consent on file for each school year, without the necessity of demonstrating competency to self-administer these medications. If a student misuses this privilege, it may be withdrawn. For purposes of this chapter, “self-administration” and “medication” mean the same as defined in Iowa Code section 280.16(1).

    ITEM 2.  Amend paragraph 14.1(7)“d” as follows:

    d.  Medication name and purpose, including the use of a bronchodilator canister or a bronchodilator canister and spacer or the use of an epinephrine auto-injector delivery system.

    ITEM 3.  Amend rule 281—14.3(256) as follows:

281—14.3(256) School district and accredited nonpublic school stock epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, bronchodilator canister, or bronchodilator canister and spacer voluntary supply.

    14.3(1) Definitions. For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions apply:

    “Act” means 2015 Iowa Acts, Senate File 462, which amended Iowa Code section 280.16 and created Iowa Code section 280.16A.

    “Bronchodilator” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 280.16(1)“a.”

    “Bronchodilator canister” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 280.16(1)“b.”

    “Department” means the department of education.

    “Epinephrine auto-injector delivery system” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 280.16(1)“c.”

    “Licensed health care professional” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 280.16(1)“d.”

    “Medication administration course” means a course approved or provided by the department that includes safe storage of medication, handling of medication, general principles, procedural aspects, skills demonstration and documentation requirements of safe medication administration in schools.

    “Medication error” means the failure to administer an epinephrine auto-injector delivery system to a student or individual by proper route, failure to administer the correct dosage, or failure to administer an epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, bronchodilator, or bronchodilator canister and spacer according to generally accepted standards of practice.

    “Medication incident” means accidental injection of an epinephrine auto-injector delivery system into a digit of the authorized personnel administering the medication.

    “Personnel authorized to administer epinephrine or a bronchodilator” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 280.16A(1)“e.”

    “School building” means each attendance center within a school district or accredited nonpublic school where students or other individuals are present.

    “School nurse” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 280.16A(1)“f.”

    “Spacer” means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 280.16A(1)“g.”

    14.3(2) Applicability. This rule applies to and permits:

    a.  A licensed health care professional to prescribe a stock epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, a bronchodilator canister, or a bronchodilator canister and spacer in the name of a school district or accredited nonpublic school for use in accordance with the Act and this rule;

    b.  A pharmacist to dispense a stock supply pursuant to paragraph 14.3(2)“a”; and

    c.  A school district or accredited nonpublic school to acquire and maintain a stock supply pursuant to paragraphs 14.3(2)“a” and 14.3(2)“b.”

    14.3(3) Prescription for stock epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilator canisters, and bronchodilator canisters and spacers. A school district or accredited nonpublic school may obtain a prescription for epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilator canisters, and bronchodilator canisters and spacers from a licensed health care professional annually in the name of the school district or accredited nonpublic school for administration to a student or individual who may be experiencing an anaphylactic reaction or may need treatment for respiratory distress, asthma, or other airway constricting disease. The school district or accredited nonpublic school is to maintain the supply of such auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilator canisters, and bronchodilator canisters and spacers according to manufacturer instructions. If a school district or accredited nonpublic school obtains a prescription pursuant to the Act and these rules for epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, the school district or accredited nonpublic school will stock a minimum of one pediatric dose and one adult dose for each school building. A school district or accredited nonpublic school may obtain a prescription for more than the minimum and may maintain a supply in other buildings.

    14.3(4) Authorized personnel and stock epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, bronchodilator canister, or bronchodilator canister and spacer administration. A school nurse or personnel trained and authorized may provide or administer an epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, bronchodilator canister, or bronchodilator canister and spacer from a school supply to a student or individual in circumstances authorized by Iowa Code section 280.16.

    a.  Pursuant to Iowa Code section 280.23, authorized personnel will submit a signed statement to the school nurse stating that the authorized personnel agree to perform the service of administering a stock epinephrine auto-injector delivery system to a student or individual who may be experiencing an anaphylactic reaction or administering a bronchodilator canister or a bronchodilator canister and spacer to a student or individual experiencing respiratory distress, asthma, or other airway constricting disease.

    b.  Emergency medical services (911) will be contacted immediately after a stock epinephrine auto-injector delivery system is administered to a student or individual, and the school nurse or authorized personnel will remain with the student or individual until emergency medical services arrive. In the event of administration of a stock bronchodilator or bronchodilator canister and spacer to a student or individual, the school nurse will be contacted and will determine, based on professional judgment, the necessary care of a student or individual.

    c.  The administration of an epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, a bronchodilator, or a bronchodilator canister and spacer in accordance with this rule is not the practice of medicine.

    14.3(5) Stock epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, bronchodilator, or bronchodilator canister and spacer training. School employees may obtain a signed certificate to become authorized personnel.

    a.  Training to obtain a signed certificate may be accomplished by:

    (1)  Successfully completing, every five years, the medication administration course provided by the department;

    (2)  Annually demonstrating to the school nurse a procedural return-skills check on medication administration;

    (3)  Annually completing an anaphylaxis, asthma, or airway constricting disease training program approved by the department;

    (4)  Demonstrating to the school nurse a procedural return-skills check on the use of an epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, bronchodilator canister, and bronchodilator canister and spacer using information from the training, using authorized prescriber instructions, and as directed by the prescription manufacturing label; and

    (5)  Providing to the school nurse a signed statement, pursuant to Iowa Code section 280.23, that the person agrees to perform one or more of the services described in this rule.

    b.  Training required after a medication error or medication incident. Authorized personnel or the school nurse directly involved with a medication error or medication incident involving the administration of stock epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilators, or bronchodilator canisters and spacers are required to follow the medication error or medication incident protocol adopted by the board of directors of the school district or authorities in charge of the school district or accredited nonpublic school. To retain authorization to administer stock epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilators, or bronchodilator canisters and spacers in the school setting, authorized personnel directly involved with a medication error or medication incident will be required to provide a procedural skills demonstration to the school nurse demonstrating competency in the administration of stock epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilators, or bronchodilator canisters and spacers.

    14.3(6) Procurement and maintenance of stock epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, bronchodilator, or bronchodilator canister and spacer supplies. A school district or accredited nonpublic school may obtain a prescription to stock, possess, and maintain epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilators, or bronchodilator canisters and spacers.

    a.  Stock epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilator canisters, and bronchodilator canisters and spacers will be stored in a secure, easily accessible area for an emergency within the school building, or in addition to other locations as determined by the school district or accredited nonpublic school, and in accordance with the manufacturing label of the stock epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, bronchodilator canister, or bronchodilator canister and spacer.

    b.  A school district or school will designate an employee to routinely check stock epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilator canisters, and bronchodilator canisters and spacers and document the following in a log monthly throughout the calendar year:

    (1)  The expiration date;

    (2)  Any visualized particles or color change, for epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems; or

    (3)  Bronchodilator canister damage.

    c.  The school district or school will develop a protocol to replace as soon as reasonably possible any logged epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, bronchodilator canister, or bronchodilator canister and spacer that is used, is damaged, is close to expiration, or is discolored or has particles visible in the epinephrine auto-injector delivery system liquid.

    14.3(7) Disposal of used stock epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilators, or bronchodilator canisters and spacers. The school district or school that administers epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilators, or bronchodilator canisters and spacers shall dispose of used cartridge injectors as infectious waste pursuant to the department’s medication waste guidance and bronchodilators or bronchodilator canisters and spacers pursuant to the department’s medication waste guidance. For purposes of this rule, a multiuse bronchodilator canister is considered “used” when it no longer contains sufficient active ingredient to be medically useful.

    14.3(8) Reporting. A school district or school that obtains a prescription for stock medications under this rule will report to the department within 48 hours, using the reporting format approved by the department, each medication incident or error with the administration of a stock epinephrine injector, bronchodilator canister, or bronchodilator canister and spacer or administration of a stock epinephrine auto-injector delivery system.

    14.3(9) School district or accredited nonpublic school policy. A school district or school may stock epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilator canisters, or bronchodilator canisters and spacers. The board of directors in charge of the school district or authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school that stocks epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilator canisters, or bronchodilator canisters and spacers shall establish a policy and procedure for the administration of a stock epinephrine auto-injector delivery system, bronchodilator canister, or bronchodilator canister and spacer, which is to comply with the minimum provisions of this rule.

    14.3(10) Rule of construction. This rule will not be construed to require school districts or accredited nonpublic schools to maintain a stock of epinephrine auto-injectors delivery systems, bronchodilator canisters, or bronchodilator canisters and spacers. An election not to maintain such a stock is not to be considered to be negligence.

    14.3(11) Opioid antagonists. A school district may obtain a valid prescription for an opioid antagonist and maintain a supply of opioid antagonists in a secure location at each location where a student may be present for use as provided in this rule. Any school district that does so is to comply with rules and procedures adopted by the department of health and human services.

    ITEM 4.  Amend rule 281—14.4(279) as follows:

281—14.4(279) Suicide prevention, identification of adverse childhood experiences, and strategies to mitigate toxic stress response. Iowa Code section 279.70 is incorporated by this reference.