In Boise, Idaho, a new law requiring parental consent for non-life-threatening medical services means school nurses and staff must get parental permission before a student can get a bandage or headache medicine.
Senate Bill 1329, which took effect in July, includes a provision that states, “A person may not provide or solicit the provision of health care services to a minor without the prior consent of the minor’s parent.”
Health care services are defined as including the diagnosis, care, screening, prevention, treatment, examination, or mitigation of a physical or mental health condition, disease, or injury.
The Boise School District recently sent a memo to parents about the bill and updated its policy on parental consent, according to NBC affiliate KTVB Boise. Among the items the district said would require consent were routine first aid, band-aids, mental health appointments and over-the-counter headache medication, the news station reported.
The district said it cannot provide these services to students without the consent form.
NBC News reached out to the district for comment on Friday.
The Idaho School Boards Association said it urges school districts and charter schools to get consent “while requiring explicit permission to administer stop-gap measures may not be the proponent’s legislative intent.”
“While this may seem strange to parents who are being asked to do so, school districts and charter schools should know that they are following the new law established in SB 1329 and may face civil penalties if they do not comply,” Executive Director Misty Swanson said in a statement.
“Existing ISBA guidelines required parental permission to dispense any medication. I’m not aware of any other school districts that sent out memos like Boise School District did, but all Idaho public schools will have to comply with the new law or face civil penalties again,” Swanson added.
The school district told KTVB that while parental consent is required by law, it has instructed staff to “use their best judgment and provide care as needed” if consent isn’t given in a timely manner.
Boise school officials aren’t the only ones taking extra precautions: The West Ada School District told the news station it has sought consent for more than 15 years, but is “now operating with increased caution in light of recent legislation.”
