Bill > S1220

This bill, aimed at reducing the risks associated with allergic reactions, allows businesses and other entities to obtain and make available epinephrine auto-injectors, which are devices used to deliver a life-saving dose of epinephrine to counteract severe allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis. The Department of Public Health will create regulations enabling these entities to provide an auto-injector for immediate self-administration to anyone an employee or designated individual believes is experiencing anaphylaxis, even if that person doesn't have a prescription or a known allergy. Furthermore, trained employees, designated individuals, or agents can administer these auto-injectors, and the bill provides liability protection for ordinary negligence for those involved in the possession, administration, or training related to these devices, excluding gross negligence. Businesses can also make auto-injectors available to others if stored securely and dispensed after remote authorization by a physician or nurse practitioner, without this consultation being considered telemedicine. The Department of Public Health must establish regulations within 180 days, including requirements for incident reporting, an annual public report on allergic reactions and auto-injector use, and detailed standards for training programs on recognizing symptoms, administering auto-injectors, and emergency follow-up procedures, which can be conducted online by approved entities. The department may also create a certification program to recognize businesses that comply with these provisions and maintain an allergy-friendly environment.