STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1855 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 23, 2023 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to epinephrine auto- injectors in schools The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2 3000-cc to read as follows: 3 § 3000-cc. Epinephrine in schools. 1. For purposes of this section: 4 (a) "Anaphylaxis" means a potentially life-threatening hypersensitivi- 5 ty or allergic reaction to a substance. 6 i. Symptoms of anaphylaxis may include shortness of breath, wheezing, 7 difficulty breathing, difficulty talking or swallowing, hives, itching, 8 swelling, shock, or asthma. 9 ii. Causes of anaphylaxis may include, but are not limited to, insect 10 stings or bites, foods, drugs, and other allergens, as well as idiopath- 11 ic or exercise-induced anaphylaxis. 12 (b) "Trained personnel" with respect to an elementary or secondary 13 school shall mean an individual: 14 i. who has been designated by the principal (or other appropriate 15 administrative staff) of the school to administer epinephrine on a 16 voluntary basis outside their scope of employment; 17 ii. who has received training in the administration of epinephrine; 18 and 19 iii. whose training in the administration of epinephrine meets appro- 20 priate medical standards. 21 2. (a) Each school shall train school personnel to administer epineph- 22 rine to any student of the school reasonably believed to be suffering 23 from anaphylaxis. 24 (b) The minimum training provided by each school in the administration 25 of epinephrine shall include but not be limited to: EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD06489-01-3A. 1855 2 1 i. Techniques for recognizing circumstances, signs, and symptoms of 2 anaphylaxis; and 3 ii. Standards and procedures for proper storage and emergency use of 4 epinephrine auto-injectors. 5 3. Each school shall maintain at least two epinephrine auto-injectors 6 (epi-pens) in separate, secure locations that are easily accessible by 7 the relevant trained personnel of the school for the purpose of adminis- 8 tration to any student of the school reasonably believed to be suffering 9 from anaphylaxis. 10 4. Each school is required to have in place a plan for having on the 11 premises of the school during all operating hours, one or more individ- 12 uals who are trained personnel in the administration of epinephrine. 13 5. Each school shall send notification home at the beginning of the 14 school year to all parents and/or guardians informing them that an 15 epinephrine auto-injector could be administered to their child in the 16 event of an anaphylactic reaction. 17 6. School officials shall obtain epi-pens from the appropriate medical 18 professionals, but a prescription is not required for their adminis- 19 tration. 20 7. School officials shall call 911 emergency services as soon as safe- 21 ly possible after administering an epi-pen. 22 8. Schools and/or staff members who are otherwise in compliance with 23 the requirements of this section shall not be held liable for the 24 reasonable and good faith administration of the epi-pen pursuant to this 25 section. 26 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 27 have become a law.