TSNO Guideline for Implementation of SB 1566

SB 1566

SECTION 14. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 38.031 to read as follows:

     Sec. 38.031. NOTICE OF LICE. (a) The board of trustees of an independent school district shall adopt a policy requiring a school nurse of a public elementary school who determines or otherwise becomes aware that a child enrolled in the school has lice shall provide written or electronic notice of that fact to:
     (1) the parent of the child with lice as soon as practicable but not later than 48 hours after the administrator or nurse, as applicable, determines or becomes aware of that fact; and
     (2) the parent of each child assigned to the same classroom as the child with lice not later than the fifth school day after the date on which the administrator or nurse, as applicable, determines or becomes aware of that fact.
     (b) The notice provided under Subsection (a):
     (1) must include the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the treatment and prevention of lice; and
     (2) if the notice is provided under Subsection (a)(2), may not identify the child with lice.
     (c) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section in a manner that complies with federal law regarding confidentiality of student medical or educational information, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g), and any state law relating to the privacy of student information.

Key points regarding SB 1566:

     • Requires written or electronic notification of the classroom parents of Elementary Students
     • The child with lice may not be identified
     • The parent(s) of an elementary student with lice must be notified within 48 hours after the administrator or nurse becomes aware of the child with lice.
     • The parent(s) of elementary students in the classroom must be notified not later than the 5th school day after the administrator or nurse is aware of the child with lice.

**As a TSNO member, you will have the benefit of obtaining TSNO's Document Library for Lice Notifications which will have parent notification forms and head lice prevention and treatment forms to send to parents. To obtain these forms please logon to the following link: https://portal.nasn.org/members_online/members/login.asp?RedirectUrl=https%3a%2f%2fschoolnursenet.nasn.org%2fhigherlogic%2fsecurity%2fcrosssitelogin.aspx?