HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4496 FILED ON: 7/23/2012
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
|
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
_________________
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 Emergency Stock Epinephrine in Schools.
_______________
PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. | 20th Middlesex | 7/23/2012 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4496 FILED ON: 7/23/2012
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No.
By Mr. Jones of North Reading, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr. relative to the availablility of epinephrine auto-injectors in schools. Public Health. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the Year Two Thousand Twelve
_______________
An Act Relative to Emergency Stock 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:
Section 54B of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the fourth paragraph the following:—
Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, no school district shall prohibit 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.
Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, each school shall maintain a stock supply of non-patient specific epinephrine to be administered in the event of an anaphylactic emergency. The department of public health shall promulgate regulations requiring school districts to adopt and implement policies pursuant to this section. Such regulations shall require that stock epinephrine be stored in an easily accessible unlocked location, the number and type of epinephrine auto-injectors required be based on school population, that the individuals authorized to administer epinephrine meet certain training requirements for such administration, and that the stock inventory be checked at regular intervals for expiration and replacement.
A school nurse or other authorized individual who provides, administers, or assists in the administration of epinephrine to a student believed in good faith to be having an anaphylactic reaction shall not be liable for any civil damages for negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such treatment. Whenever any employee of a school district is covered by the immunity granted herein, the school district employing the individual shall not be liable for any civil damages for negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such treatment.