N.J. committee advances bill to expand epinephrine options in schools, higher education and youth camps
TRENTON, N.J. — A Senate panel has advanced legislation that would expand the types of epinephrine delivery devices allowed in New Jersey schools, colleges and youth camps during life-threatening allergic reactions.
The Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee approved the bill sponsored by Sen. Michael Testa (R-01), which aims to ensure that responders are not limited to a single type of auto-injector when treating anaphylaxis.
“When a student is experiencing a life-threatening allergic reaction, every second counts,” Testa said. “This legislation ensures that schools, institutions of higher education, and youth camps aren’t limited to only one type of epinephrine auto-injector and instead, can use any single unit dose epinephrine mechanism immediately to save a child’s life.”
Under current law, only prefilled auto-injectors may be used to administer epinephrine in school settings. The bill would authorize any FDA-approved single-unit epinephrine delivery mechanism for emergency use.
