Snyder signs bill making allergy pens more accessible for emergencies

Epi-Pens and other auto-injectibles of epinephrine will be available in more public places to address severe allergic reactions, under legislation signed last Thursday by Gov. Rick Snyder.

“Making Epi-Pens more readily available is a common sense way to protect those who have severe allergies,” Snyder said. “With this new law, parents can be more confident sending their kids to camp or on field trips without constant worry of a severe allergic reaction that could threaten their health.”

House Bill 4438, sponsored by state Rep. Lisa Lyons, allows pharmacists to dispense Epi-Pens to authorized entities with a prescription, such as recreation camps, youth sports leagues, amusements parks or similar locations or events. Employees or administrators will be trained to administer an Epi-Pen and allowed to use it when they believe in good faith someone is experiencing a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Any incidents that result in the administration of an Epi-Pen will be reported to the state Department of Health and Human Services by the organization.  DHHS will then annually publish a summary of the incidents. The bill was approved unanimously in both chambers and is now Public Act 221 of 2015.

Snyder also signed eight additional measures last Thursday:

HBs 4594 and 4790, sponsored by state Rep. Ed McBroom, expand participation in extracurricular activities for privately-educated or homeschool students to include kindergarten. Currently this is permitted for children in grades one to 12. The bills are now PAs 222 and 223, respectively.

Senate Bills 400, 401 and 402, sponsored by state Sens. Schmidt, Stamas and Schuitmaker, were recommended by the Environmental Advisory Rules Committee under the Office of Regulatory Reinvention, recognizing the need to recycle and reuse liquid industrial by-products. The bills streamline reporting processes for disposing of liquid industrial by-product, while maintaining the standards designed to prevent releases to the environment. They are now PAs 224, 225 and 226, respectively.

SBs 529 and 530, sponsored by state Sen. Judy Emmons, enable a successor guardian to receive guardianship assistance after the death or incapacity of the original guardian, preventing a child from having to return to foster care before a new guardianship agreement can be worked out. The bills also bring the state into compliance with the Federal Sex Trafficking Act, ensuring continued federal funding for foster care services in Michigan. The bills are now PAs 227 and 228.

SB 151, sponsored by state Sen. Steve Bieda, removes a sunset on current law allowing a convicted felon to petition a court for post-conviction DNA testing and a new trial. It is now PA 229.

For additional information on this and other legislation, visit www.legislature.mi.gov.

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