SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 373
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: FEBRUARY 15, 1996
The Senate Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 373 with committee amendments.
As amended, this bill requires a board of education to develop a policy for the emergency administration of epinephrine via epi-pen to a pupil for anaphylaxis under certain conditions. The conditions include provisions that the parents or guardians file their written authorization and submit written orders from the pupil's physician or advanced practice nurse that the pupil requires the administration of epinephrine for anaphylaxis and does not have the capability for self-administration; the board informs the parents or guardians that if the specified procedures are followed, it shall have no liability arising from the administration of the epi-pen; and the parents or guardians sign a statement that the district shall have no liability as a result.
The bill provides that the school nurse should have primary responsibility for the administration of the epi-pen; however, the school nurse may designate another employee if that person has been properly trained by the nurse and if the parents consent in writing to the administration of the epi-pen by that person. Permission for the administration of the epi-pen would be effective for the school year for which it was granted and must be renewed for each subsequent school year.
Committee amendments were adopted which restrict the provisions of the bill to the emergency administration of epinephrine via epi-pen, provide that the school nurse has the primary responsibility for designating another employee to administer the medication, and eliminate the requirement for the Department of Education to promulgate rules and regulations.
This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.