HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 524        FILED ON: 1/18/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 594

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Jay R. Kaufman

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to access to epinephrine in schools.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Jay R. Kaufman

15th Middlesex

1/21/2011

John D. Keenan

7th Essex

1/31/2011

George T. Ross

2nd Bristol

2/3/2011

Kate Hogan

3rd Middlesex

2/4/2011

Denise Andrews

2nd Franklin

2/4/2011

Cory Atkins

14th Middlesex

2/3/2011

Karen E. Spilka

 

2/4/2011


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 524        FILED ON: 1/18/2011

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 594

By Mr. Kaufman of Lexington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 594) of Jay R. Kaufman and others that the Department of Public Health be directed to promulgate regulations governing the administration of medication to children in schools.  Public Health.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2077 OF 2009-2010.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act relative to access to epinephrine in schools.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 54B, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 54B.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of public health shall promulgate regulations governing the administration of medications, including psychotropic medications to children in school settings, in accordance with sections seven and nine of chapter ninety-four C. In developing such regulations, the department shall consult with the board of registration in nursing and the board of registration in medicine.

Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, no school district shall prohibit students with asthma or other respiratory diseases from possessing and administering prescription inhalers or students with life-threatening allergies from possessing and administering epinephrine in accordance with department of public health regulations concerning students' self-administration of prescription medications.

A school district must allow storage of epinephrine in a secure but unlocked place, as determined by the school nurse, accessible only to authorized persons, located in every part of the school grounds where an allergic student is most at risk such as classrooms and lunchrooms.

 Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, no school district shall prohibit students with cystic fibrosis from possessing and administering prescription enzyme supplements in accordance with department of public health regulations concerning students' self-administration of prescription medications.

Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, a school district shall not prohibit a student with diabetes from possessing and administering a glucose monitoring test and insulin delivery system, in accordance with department of public health regulations concerning a student’s self-administration of a prescription medication.