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Committee advances teacher training bill after lawmakers cite child’s death from delayed EpiPen
Summary
House Bill 2,047 would require annual teacher training to recognize anaphylaxis and use an EpiPen. The committee advanced the bill after lawmakers described a constituent’s fatal allergy reaction; members discussed training burdens and said the course is a free, 30‑minute online module or may be delivered by school nurses.
Representative Stinson presented House Bill 2,047 to the Education Oversight Committee as a constituent request following a fatal allergic reaction in early 2023. Stinson said a 10‑year‑old, "Emerson Kate Cole," died in Amarillo after an allergic exposure and school staff were unable to get an EpiPen in time.
"This bill would just require that teachers undergo annual training on how to recognize signs of anaphylaxis related to food allergies, how to use an EpiPen," Stinson said, and invited questions.
Representative Provazzano pressed whether the annual requirement would conflict with an existing cap on required teacher training hours (150 hours every five years). Stinson replied that the training is available free online, lasts about 30 minutes, and that a school nurse could provide the training in a group setting.
The committee opened and closed the vote; the clerk announced the result as "9 aye, 0 aye" in the transcript and the bill was sent as a due pass.
The measure, as explained in committee, would require annual teacher training on recognition of anaphylaxis and use of epinephrine injectors; the committee did not discuss specific funding for the training in the transcript.
