HF2489

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to enhance the safety of students with severe allergies in Minnesota schools by modifying the regulations concerning the accessibility and administration of epinephrine auto-injectors, commonly known as EpiPens. It seeks to ensure that students with life-threatening allergies have immediate access to these devices.

Main Provisions

• Individual Health Plans: Schools are required to work with parents and medical professionals to create a personalized health plan for students prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors. This plan must detail how the student can possess or quickly access these auto-injectors during the school day.

• Epinephrine Auto-Injector Accessibility: Schools are authorized to maintain a stock supply of epinephrine auto-injectors. They can be administered by trained school personnel, including nurses, to any individual experiencing anaphylaxis, whether or not they have a personal prescription.

• Good Faith Immunity: The bill provides legal protection to school districts and personnel who act in good faith when administering epinephrine under the plan to handle allergy emergencies.

• Training and Policy Development: The bill encourages districts to assess staff training needs for recognizing anaphylaxis and administer epinephrine. It also allows the commissioners of education and health to develop model policies to guide schools in implementing these requirements.

• Funding and Procurement: Schools can enter agreements with manufacturers to acquire epinephrine auto-injectors at free or reduced prices, helping them maintain an adequate supply for emergencies.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill amends the Minnesota Statutes to expand and clarify the mechanisms through which epinephrine auto-injectors can be accessed and used in schools. It emphasizes creating specific health plans, mandating accessible stock supplies in schools, and ensuring legal protections and resources are in place to manage allergic emergencies effectively. The requirements for staff training and parent cooperation in these health plans are also more clearly laid out compared to previous statutes.

Relevant Terms

epinephrine, auto-injectors, allergy, anaphylaxis, health plan, school nurse, medical emergency, EpiPen, legal protection, school policy, training, accessibility, stock supply.