Developmental Services bill would allow insulin autoinjector use, create limited financial guardianship and expand abuse registry

House Bill 7156, a package of statutory changes proposed by the Department of Developmental Services, would make three principal changes affecting people with intellectual disability and the agencies that serve them. At a March 10 public hearing, Department officials and the probate court administrator described the bill to the Public Health Committee and answered lawmakers’ questions.

The most immediate change in the draft would allow medication administration by trained unlicensed personnel to include insulin autoinjector pens as well as epinephrine injectors. "Autoinjectors are much simpler to use," Jordan Sheff, Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services, told the committee, explaining that the department would require additional, specific training and regulatory safeguards before unlicensed staff could give those injections. He said the department planned to work with the Department of Public Health and its own health services director to write procedures and codify oversight.

Why it matters: Commissioner Sheff said the change would avert the need…