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Bill would let Ohio districts keep naloxone in schools and set training, storage policies
Summary
House Bill 57 would permit school districts to supply naloxone and requires districts that elect to do so to establish policies on storage, training and administration; sponsors and members debated whether the superintendent or school board should lead policy adoption and discussed funding and model policy options.
House Bill 57 would allow Ohio school districts that choose to supply overdose-reversal medication such as naloxone to establish policies on storage, training and rapid administration and to accept donations for related resources, sponsors told the Senate Education Committee at a first hearing.
"This is a life saving measure," Representative Jerrells said in sponsor testimony. He described recent school overdose incidents and cited state statistics: "According to the Ohio Department of Health, overdose deaths among children and teens ages 10 to 19 rose 166 percent between 2018 and 2022. In just one year in 2022, we lost at least 61 Ohio youth to unintentional drug overdoses." Jerrells urged preparedness, saying naloxone "reverses overdoses. It gives parents the chance to hug their children again."
Jerrells said the bill is permissive and intended to provide districts with tools and guidance rather than impose a mandate. The draft requires a district that elects to supply naloxone to adopt a policy covering proper storage, training and rapid administration. The sponsor said the superintendent was named in the draft as the official to adopt and implement such a policy because superintendents typically oversee day-to-day operations and then report to the school board.
Committee members pressed sponsors on that choice. Senator Huffman asked whether policy adoption should be a school-board decision rather than a superintendent duty. Ranking Member Ingram and Senator Kaler said they supported required policies on training and maintenance but sought clarity on what "permissive" means in practice. Jerrells said he was open to changes, including allowing school boards to make the policy decision and having a state agency provide a model policy.
Sponsors emphasized the bill’s focus on readiness and community support, noting some Ohio districts already keep naloxone on site. Jerrells said the bill previously passed the House unanimously. The committee concluded the first hearing; no committee vote was recorded.
