Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H590 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1368 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 590
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Kenneth I. Gordon
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to emergency stock supply of epinephrine in schools.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kenneth I. Gordon21st Middlesex1/14/2025Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida7th Plymouth2/10/2025 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1368 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 590
18	18	By Representative Gordon of Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 590) of
19	19	Kenneth I. Gordon and Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida relative to emergency stock supply of
20	20	epinephrine in schools. Education.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
24	24	(2025-2026)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act relative to emergency stock supply of epinephrine in schools.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Section 8A of Chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
30	30	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting in line 33 after the word "resuscitation" the
31	31	3following:- the administration of epi-pens.
32	32	4 SECTION 2. Section 54B of chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
33	33	5striking the third paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following two paragraphs:-
34	34	6 Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, each school
35	35	7shall, subject to appropriation, maintain a stock supply of non-patient specific epinephrine
36	36	8available to all students, including students with individualized health care plans prescribing
37	37	9epinephrine injections, to be administered in the event of an anaphylactic emergency. The
38	38	10department of public health shall promulgate regulations requiring school districts to adopt and
39	39	11implement policies pursuant to this section. Such regulations shall require that stock epinephrine
40	40	12be stored in an easily accessible unlocked location, the number and type of epinephrine auto 2 of 2
41	41	13injectors required be based on school population, that the individuals authorized to administer
42	42	14epinephrine meet certain training requirements for such administration, including the use of
43	43	15epinephrine dose calculation devices, and that the stock inventory be checked at regular intervals
44	44	16for expiration and replacement. A school nurse or other authorized individual who provides,
45	45	17administers, or assists in the administration of epinephrine to a student believed in good faith to
46	46	18be having an anaphylactic reaction shall not be liable for any civil damages for negligence in acts
47	47	19or omissions resulting from the rendering of such treatment. Whenever any employee of a school
48	48	20district is covered by the immunity granted herein, the school district employing the individual
49	49	21shall not be liable for any civil damages for negligence in acts or omissions resulting from the
50	50	22rendering of such treatment.
51	51	23 Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the cost of supplying non-
52	52	24patient specific epinephrine to schools pursuant to this section shall be assessed on surcharge
53	53	25payors as defined by section 64 of chapter 118E and may be collected in a manner consistent
54	54	26with said chapter 118. All surcharge revenue generated under this section shall be collected in a
55	55	27manner consistent with said chapter and department of public health regulation.