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Committee approves bill allowing students to self-administer epinephrine nasal spray in schools
Summary
Senate Bill 2196, sponsored by Senator Kristin Rohrs, was approved by the Senate Human Services Committee to clarify that students may self-administer asthma or anaphylaxis medication delivered by a premeasured epinephrine nasal spray, aligning state code with recent FDA approvals and current school nursing practice.
The Senate Human Services Committee voted unanimously to pass Senate Bill 2196, which clarifies that students may self-administer asthma or anaphylaxis medication delivered by a premeasured epinephrine nasal spray.
Senator Kristin Rohrs, District 27, introduced the bill, saying it was requested by the health department after new product options emerged. "It is at heart a technical correction," Rohrs said, describing a change that updates school medication rules to reflect new routes of administration.
Heather Capella, state school nurse consultant with the Department of Health and Human Services, told the committee the change is needed because the Food and Drug Administration recently approved an epinephrine nasal spray for emergency treatment of allergic reactions. Capella said the nasal route can reduce barriers to timely treatment for anaphylaxis: "Epinephrine is the only life saving treatment for anaphylaxis" and a nasal spray may help students who hesitate at injections.
Robin Lang of the Department of Public Instruction said school nurses she consulted support allowing the nasal spray as an option and that the change aligns with current school medication practice and training.
Committee action
Senator Rohrs moved that SB 2196 be recommended "do pass"; Senator Weston seconded. The committee recorded a roll-call vote of 6-0 to recommend passage.
Details and implementation
Witnesses and staff said the bill merely updates the statutory definition of "emergency medication" in North Dakota Century Code 15.1-19-16 to encompass devices that deliver a premeasured dose of epinephrine by nasal administration, while leaving existing provisions allowing auto-injectable epinephrine pens intact. School nurses in the discussion said a nasal option would be a less-invasive alternative in emergencies and that they were engaged while staff prepared the bill language.
The committee did not record any opposition testimony on the bill. With the committee recommendation, sponsors said they expect the language to be available for the next steps in the legislative process.
