HB156 Summary

• State Department of Education must develop an anaphylaxis preparedness program for adoption by local school boards and implementation in all K-12 public schools beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.

• Program incorporates three prevention levels: primary prevention through education on food allergies, secondary prevention through identification and management of chronic illness, and tertiary prevention through emergency response planning.

• Local boards of education may collaborate with physicians to develop emergency response protocols that include supplies of premeasured, autoinjectable epinephrine on school campuses, which can be administered by school nurses or trained unlicensed personnel.

• Schools, employees, and training providers are granted immunity from civil and criminal liability for acts or omissions related to anaphylaxis emergency response; physicians who participate in or develop protocols receive similar immunity protections.

• State must provide funding for securing and maintaining epinephrine supplies on school campuses in order to enforce the requirement; bill excludes local expenditures from constitutional limitations under Amendment 621.