FILED ON: 3/18/2014

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4014

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Fourteen

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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 1. Section 54B of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the third paragraph and inserting in place thereof  the following:— 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.