Committee hears testimony on 'Elijah's Law' to require EpiPens, training in day care centers

Members of the House Children and Youth Committee heard testimony on House Bill 928, known as Elijah's Law, during a public hearing on the bill that would require licensed day care facilities to stock epinephrine auto‑injectors (EpiPens), adopt emergency action plans for anaphylaxis, provide annual staff training and parent information, and include liability protections for good‑faith administration.

The proposal is aimed at preventing fatal anaphylactic reactions among infants and young children in childcare settings. Testifiers included Thomas Silvera, father of Elijah Silvera and vice president/executive director and co‑founder of the Elijah Alavi Foundation; Alexa Jordan, advocacy and policy coordinator at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AFAA); Representative Bridget Kosarowski, prime sponsor of the bill; and Representative Kristen Marcel, co‑prime sponsor.

Elijah's father, Thomas Silvera, described the circumstances that prompted the legislation. "Elijah's law was created to ensure that no other children suffers due to lack of preparedness," Silvera said, recounting that his 3‑year‑old son died after being served a food containing a known allergen and that staff at the childcare center did not administer epinephrine. Silvera said the child had a documented severe dairy allergy and asthma, that a separate meal plan had been prepared for him, and that an educator gave him a grilled…