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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2597 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 671
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Edward R. Philips
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to undesignated glucagon rescue therapies in schools.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Edward R. Philips8th Norfolk1/16/2025 1 of 4
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2597 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 671
By Representative Philips of Sharon, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 671) of
Edward R. Philips relative to undesignated glucagon rescue therapies in schools. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 556 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to undesignated glucagon rescue therapies in schools.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 The General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, are hereby amended by
2inserting after section 54B of chapter 71 the following section:-
3 SECTION 54B1/2. UNDESIGNATED GLUCAGON RESCUE THERAPIES
4 (a)For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following
5meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
6 "Diabetes care plan", a document that specifies the diabetes-related services needed by a
7student at school and at school-sponsored activities and identifies the appropriate staff to provide
8and supervise these services. 2 of 4
9 "Health care provider", a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches,
10advanced practice registered nurse who has a written agreement with a collaborating physician
11who authorizes the provision of diabetes care, or a physician assistant who has a written
12supervision agreement with a supervising physician who authorizes the provision of diabetes
13care.
14 "Principal", the principal of the school.
15 "School", any primary or secondary public school located in the Commonwealth.
16 "School personnel", a person who is employed by a public school district, a person who
17is employed by a local health department and assigned to a school, or a person who contracts
18with a school or school district to perform services in connection with a student's diabetes care
19plan.
20 "Ready-to-use undesignated glucagon rescue therapy", a glucagon rescue therapy
21approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that does not require reconstitution for the
22treatment of severe hypoglycemia in a dosage form that can be rapidly administered to the
23patient in an emergency.
24 (b) A school district shall obtain a standing order of ready-to-use undesignated glucagon
25rescue therapy in which a licensed health care provider with the authority to prescribe ready-to-
26use glucagon rescue therapy may prescribe ready-to-use glucagon rescue therapy in the name of
27the school district or school to be maintained for use when necessary. Ready-to-use undesignated
28glucagon rescue therapy prescriptions must be accompanied by a standing order for the
29administration of school supplied, ready-to-use undesignated glucagon rescue therapy for
30potentially severe hypoglycemic reactions. 3 of 4
31 (c) A school may maintain a supply of a ready-to-use undesignated glucagon rescue
32therapy in any secure location that is immediately accessible to school personnel. Any supply of
33ready-to-use undesignated glucagon rescue therapies must be maintained in accordance with the
34manufacturer's instructions. School personnel may administer a ready-to-use undesignated
35glucagon rescue therapy that does not require reconstitution if the student's prescribed glucagon
36is not available on-site or has expired.
37 (d) Ready-to-use undesignated glucagon rescue therapies may be used on school
38property, including the school building, playground, and school bus, as well as during field trips
39or sanctioned excursions away from school property.
40 (e) If a student is injured or harmed due to the administration of ready-to-use
41undesignated glucagon rescue therapy that a licensed health professional with prescribing
42authority has prescribed and a pharmacist has dispensed to a school under this section, the
43licensed health professional with prescribing authority and pharmacist may not be held
44responsible for the injury unless he or she issued the prescription with a conscious disregard for
45safety.
46 (f) In the event school personnel administers ready-to-use undesignated glucagon rescue
47therapy to a student who the nurse in good faith believes to be experiencing a severe
48hypoglycemic reaction and administers the medication in accordance with the written policies of
49the school district, then the school personnel, the school district or school of employment, and
50the members of the governing board and chief administrator thereof are not liable in any criminal
51action or for civil damages in their individual, marital, governmental, corporate, or other capacity
52as a result of providing the glucagon. 4 of 4
53 (g) Immediately after the administration of undesignated glucagon, a school must call
54911 for emergency assistance and notify the school nurse, unless the school nurse was the one
55administering the undesignated glucagon, and the student's parent or guardian or emergency
56contact, if known, and health care provider of its use.