As a result of SB 12 going into effect Sept.1, non-emergency medical care for students now requires written parental permission. 

The consent form went out to parents Aug. 29 as a digital form in Skyward.

Faculty can still perform emergency medical care even without a consent form.

“Under Texas Senate Bill 12, passed during the 89th legislative session, school nurses 

and staff are also expected to be prepared for certain medical emergencies such as 

anaphylaxis or opioid overdoses by having emergency medications such as epinephrine 

and naloxone available,”  School Health Director Krista Ellis said.

For students with medications in the nurse’s office, SB 12 now requires the parent to

also sign the permission slip found within Skyward for non-emergency care. 

“If the school doesn’t get the needed approval, the medication usually stays locked 

in the nurse’s office,” Ellis said. “Parents can pick it up at any time, and at the end of the year, schools will typically send notices asking families to come retrieve any unused medications.”

Teachers are limited in what they can do under SB 12 when a student has a non life threatening event. 

“I feel the restrictions are ridiculous and just another way to hamper how we take care of kids,” teacher Kristina Hopkins said.

Teachers can leave out supplies for students to take, even if not able to directly give them to students.

“I have used one of my drawers to house band-aids and when a student asks for one, I just direct them to that drawer,” Hopkins said. “They do not abuse this ability and it actually works really well to keep class on task.”

If a suspected emergency turns out to be a non-emergency and medical care is provided, faculty members are still protected from legal repercussions.

“Texas law, including Senate Bill 12, allows school personnel to give emergency care even if a parent hasn’t signed off on non-emergency treatment when there’s a good-faith belief 

that the student may be in serious danger,” Ellis said. “This protects both the student and the staff member legally and ethically.”