State Representative Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna) recently announced that his legislation, House Bill 440, took effect on July 1, 2023. Sponsored by Rep. Stoner, HB 440 will allow public and private schools in Georgia to acquire and keep a supply of glucagon, a rescue therapy medication used to treat hypoglycemic emergencies for citizens with Type 1 diabetes.
“I want to thank Governor Kemp for signing this bill into law and those who co-sponsored this bipartisan piece of legislation,” said Rep. Stoner. “This will now save children’s lives by allowing school nurses and trained school health professionals to care for those who experience a severe hypoglycemic episode while at school.”
HB 440 will allow prescribers, such as physicians and nurse practitioners, to provide standing orders or prescriptions for ready-to-use glucagon to schools so that this medication can be rapidly administered to students in an emergency. Schools will also be able to work directly with glucagon manufacturers or third-party suppliers to obtain the products for free or at fair market or reduced prices. The Georgia General Assembly unanimously passed Rep. Stoner’s legislation during the 2023 legislative session.
This bipartisan bill was co-sponsored by Public Health Chairman Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta), Health Chairman Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville), Education Chairman Chris Erwin (R-Homer), State Representatives Patty Bentley (D-Butler) and Carl Gillard (R-Savannah), chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.
This legislation is supported by the American Diabetes Association, Georgia School Superintendents Association, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, Georgia Association of School Nurses, as well as the Georgia Association of Educators.
More information about HB 440 may be found here.
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