House Passes Simmons’ Student Health and Safety Bill
Measure provides civil immunity to school bus drivers who administer epi-pens
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton), that would help to ensure the health and safety of Pennsylvania students who suffer from severe allergic reactions, was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives on Monday.
House Bill 224 will now go to the Senate for consideration.
Simmons’ proposal would provide civil immunity to school bus drivers who administer epinephrine auto-injectors, or epi-pens, to students who experience an allergic reaction while riding on a school bus. Under the legislation, a school bus driver must first complete a training program developed by the state Department of Health and comply with school district policy to be qualified to use the epi-pen.
“My legislation would benefit children suffering from allergies by allowing them to receive the benefit of this emergency treatment,” said Simmons. “School bus drivers would be granted Good Samaritan civil immunity when administering an epi-pen to save a student.”
House Bill 224 does not mandate that school districts or school bus companies enact an epi-pen policy, only that such a policy would allow for civil immunity if the guidelines are met.
Similar legislation was passed by the House during the last two legislative sessions, but it failed to come up for a vote in the Senate.
Representative Justin Simmons
131st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717.260.6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
RepSimmons.com /
Facebook.com/RepSimmons