HLS 18RS-2111 ENGROSSED
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 81
BY REPRESENTATIVE AMEDEE
PUBLIC HEALTH: Requests a study of cost-effective means by which to facilitate
emergency access to epinephrine at public places
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the office of public health of the Louisiana Department of Health to
3 conduct a study concerning cost-effective means by which to facilitate emergency
4 access to epinephrine at public places, and to report findings of the study to the
5 legislative committees on health and welfare.
6 WHEREAS, epinephrine is a naturally occurring hormone which, as an injectable
7medicine, is used to treat anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction caused by foods,
8insect bites, and other allergens; and
9 WHEREAS, epinephrine is administered via a device known as an auto-injector
10which is designed to allow a person without medical training to easily inject someone
11experiencing a serious allergic reaction with a life-saving dose of the medicine; and
12 WHEREAS, House Bill No. 99 of the 2014 Regular Session would have authorized
13any person licensed by this state to dispense a prescription drug order to dispense
14epinephrine auto-injectors pursuant to a prescription issued in the name of any public place
15at which allergens capable of causing anaphylaxis may be present, including but not limited
16to day care facilities, churches, restaurants and other retail businesses, recreation camps,
17youth sports leagues, sports arenas, and amusement parks; and
18 WHEREAS, this legislation also would have required employees at public places
19receiving epinephrine auto-injectors to complete training on responding to anaphylaxis prior
20to administering epinephrine, and would have required that such training be conducted by
21a nationally recognized organization approved by the Louisiana Department of Health; and
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HCR NO. 81
1 WHEREAS, the fiscal note on House Bill No. 99 of the 2014 Regular Session
2indicated that the bill's requirements, particularly those relative to training, were estimated
3to increase the Louisiana Department of Health's total state general fund expenditures by two
4hundred forty-five thousand dollars in state fiscal year 2014-2015, and to increase such
5expenditures by four percent annually in future fiscal years; and
6 WHEREAS, it is appropriate to call for an effort by the office of public health to
7identify cost-effective means by which to facilitate safe access to life-saving epinephrine in
8public places in this state.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
10urge and request the office of public health of the Louisiana Department of Health to
11conduct a study concerning cost-effective means by which to facilitate emergency access to
12epinephrine at public places.
13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in addition to examining costs and benefits of
14facilitating emergency access to epinephrine at public places, the office of public health shall
15also examine and report on the following matters relating to epinephrine:
16 (1) Appropriate dosages of epinephrine based upon different persons' age, weight,
17and other physiological characteristics.
18 (2) The duration for which epinephrine auto-injectors can be stored.
19 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of public health shall issue findings
20and recommendations from the study called for in this Resolution in the form of a report to
21the House Committee on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee on Health and
22Welfare no later than sixty days prior to the convening of the 2019 Regular Session of the
23Legislature of Louisiana.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
25assistant secretary of the office of public health and to the secretary of the Louisiana
26Department of Health.
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HCR NO. 81
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 81 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session Amedee
Requests the office of public health of the La. Department of Health to conduct a study
concerning cost-effective means by which to facilitate emergency access to epinephrine at
public places and to report findings to the legislative committees on health and welfare.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Require that in addition to examining costs and benefits of facilitating emergency
access to epinephrine at public places, the office of public health shall also
examine and report on the following matters relating to epinephrine:
a. Appropriate dosages of epinephrine based upon different persons' age,
weight, and other physiological characteristics.
b. The duration for which epinephrine auto-injectors can be stored.
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