The 2019 Texas Legislative Session, the 86th one, has finished. Below is a quick summary of the bills the State Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society supported. As in years past, Dr. Lieberman attended First Tuesdays at the Capitol to advocate for these bills with our state legislators!
HB4260 relating to the possession and administration of an epinephrine auto-injector by certain entities was signed by the Governor on 6/14/19 and will be effective 9/1/19. HB4260 allows epinephrine to be stocked in public places, similar to the placement of AED’s, such as sports venues and public buildings. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB4260
HB1849 relating to the possession and administration of epinephrine auto-injectors in day-care centers; limited liability was signed by the Governor on 6/14/19 and is effective immediately. HB1849 is similar to the bills allowing epi auto-injectors in public, charter\ and private schools and public colleges and universities. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB1849
SB1827 relating to the possession and emergency administration of an epinephrine auto-injector by law enforcement agencies and peace officers was signed by the Governor on 6/10/19 and will be effective 9/1/19. This bill allows our law enforcement agencies to also have epi auto-injectors on hand just as they carry naloxone to reverse narcotic overdoses. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=SB1827
HB2243 relating to the use of prescription asthma medicine on public and private school campuses was signed by the Governor on 5/24/19 and is effective immediately. HB2243 allows schools to keep on hand prescription asthma inhalers to be used with parent’s permission if needed by a student. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB2243
SB869 relating to guidelines for policies of school districts and open-enrollment charter schools for the care of certain students at risk of anaphylaxis was signed by the Governor on 6/14/19 and is effective immediately. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=SB869
The only allergy supported legislation that was NOT passed was SB425/HB4256 relating to food allergen awareness in food service establishments. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=SB425