Senate Bill 531, proposing provisions for storage and emergency administration of a stock supply of bronchodilators (for example, albuterol inhalers) at schools, prompted extended committee discussion about medical protocols, parental notification and legal jurisdiction.

The Department of Education said it supports the bill with changes outlined in its written testimony and described operational considerations, including training and routines for monitoring medication expirations. Ben Kalinski of the DOE’s student support branch explained that many inhalers contain about 200 doses and that typical shelf life for such medications is “a few years.”

Public-health and medical organizations testified in favor. Pedro Haro of the American Lung Association said 24 states have passed similar laws and cited instances where stock bronchodilators might have prevented harm. Gloria Fernandez of the Department of Health said DOH would collaborate with DOE on protocols if jurisdictions chose to implement the program.

Several senators pressed department witnesses on liability, parental consent and scope. The Attorney General’s Office cautioned that the bill’s definition of “school” is broad—extending to private preschools and childcare centers—and that DOE cannot impose protocols on institutions outside its jurisdiction; AG testimony recommended narrowing scope or clarifying implementation responsibilities.

In committee business the chair indicated a recommendation to defer SB 531 indefinitely. The committee discussion recorded multiple operational concerns including who would administer medications (trained staff or certified volunteers), how expired medication would be managed, how parents would be notified, and whether the state would inadvertently create a new expectation that schools supply other emergency medicines.