Pertaining to the regulation of certain drugs, authorizing schools to maintain stock supplies of emergency medication kits for certain life-threatening conditions and adding and removing certain substances in schedules I, II, IV and V of the uniform controlled substances act and making conforming changes to the criminal code definition of fentanyl-related controlled substances.
Impact
By empowering schools to keep emergency medication on hand, HB 2547 aims to enhance health management during critical incidents on school grounds. The legislation not only facilitates immediate response capabilities to life-threatening situations but also takes a step towards combating potential medical emergencies in schools by simplifying the provision and training processes for essential medical interventions. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions to modify the schedules of various controlled substances, positively impacting how schools deal with medication and emergency scenarios.
Summary
House Bill 2547 focuses on the regulation of specific drugs and authorizing schools to maintain emergency medication kits to handle life-threatening conditions. This bill mandates that schools can stock medications such as epinephrine and albuterol, which are crucial for managing urgent health issues like asthma attacks or severe allergic reactions. Additionally, the bill outlines training requirements for school personnel who are designated to administer these medications, ensuring that proper procedures are established.
Sentiment
The general sentiment around HB 2547 has been supportive, particularly among health professionals and educational institutions, as it places a significant emphasis on student safety and medical preparedness. Advocacy groups highlight the importance of timely access to life-saving medications in school settings. However, there are concerns from some quarters regarding the clarity of the training requirements and the implications of expanding controlled substances lists, which may necessitate ongoing monitoring and review to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
Contention
Notably, opposition from certain advocacy groups has raised questions about the potential for overreach in drug regulation and the responsibilities assigned to school personnel in administering medications. Critics argue there should be a clear delineation regarding who qualifies to provide such emergency care, citing the need for comprehensive oversight amid the changing regulatory landscape. The debate encapsulates broader issues within healthcare access and the role of educational institutions in managing health crises.
Adding and removing certain substances in schedules I, II, IV and V of the uniform controlled substances act and making conforming changes to the criminal code definition of "fentanyl-related controlled substances."
Amending the definition of "psilocybin" in the uniform controlled substances act to exclude the pharmaceutical composition of crystalline polymorph psilocybin and adding crystalline polymorph psilocybin to schedule IV of the uniformed controlled substance act.
Adding the placing of controlled substances into pills into the definition of manufacture, increasing the criminal penalties for manufacturing fentanyl and creating a special sentencing rule to make sentences for distributing fentanyl presumptive imprisonment.
Controlled dangerous substances; adding to list of Schedule I controlled substances; revocation or suspension of registrations; written orders; repealers; emergency.
Increasing the criminal penalties for battery of a healthcare provider, adding the placing of controlled substances into pills into the definition of manufacture, increasing the criminal penalties for manufacturing fentanyl and for manufacturing or distributing any controlled substances that are likely to be attractive to minors because of their appearance or packaging, creating a special sentencing rule to make sentences for distributing fentanyl presumptive imprisonment, excluding materials used to detect the presence of fentanyl, ketamine or gamma hydroxybutyric acid from the definition of drug paraphernalia, adding domestic battery and violation of a protection order to the crimes that a person can have the intent to commit when committing burglary or aggravated burglary, increasing criminal penalties for the crime of interference with law enforcement when the violation involves fleeing from a law enforcement officer and authorizing the attorney general to prosecute certain crimes that are part of an alleged course of criminal conduct that occurred in two or more counties.
Adding and removing certain substances in schedules I, II, IV and V of the uniform controlled substances act and making conforming changes to the criminal code definition of "fentanyl-related controlled substances."