HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2066        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 507

 

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

1/17/2023

Nicholas A. Boldyga

3rd Hampden

1/26/2023

Susan Williams Gifford

2nd Plymouth

1/26/2023

F. Jay Barrows

1st Bristol

1/26/2023

Joseph D. McKenna

18th Worcester

1/27/2023

Angelo L. D'Emilia

8th Plymouth

1/29/2023

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

1/30/2023

Paul K. Frost

7th Worcester

1/31/2023

Kimberly N. Ferguson

1st Worcester

2/1/2023

Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida

7th Plymouth

2/9/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2066        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 507

By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 507) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others that schools be required to maintain non-patient specific epinephrine auto-injectors to be used in the event of anaphylactic emergencies.  Education.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 630 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

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 2020 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.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of public health in conjunction with the department of elementary and secondary education shall make all reasonable efforts to obtain federal funding or reimbursement for the implementation of this act. The department of public health in conjunction with the department of elementary and secondary education shall inquire about free epinephrine from pharmaceutical companies.