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Committee hears unanimous support for allowing schools to stock albuterol for asthma emergencies
Summary
A bipartisan hearing on HB600 drew broad support from health providers, school groups, and tribal representatives to permit (but not require) schools to keep stock albuterol for emergency asthma care; sponsors cited data that only a small share of students with asthma bring inhalers to school.
Representative Melody Cunningham presented House Bill 600 to allow schools to maintain stock albuterol inhalers for emergency use. The bill is permissive: schools would decide whether to stock the medication and designate trained "authorized personnel" to administer it.
DPHHS program staff and pediatric experts described the prevalence and harms of uncontrolled asthma in Montana, saying about 7% of children (roughly 15,000 statewide) have asthma. Witnesses cited experience from other states and program data showing stock albuterol can reduce emergency-department visits and hospital transports; the sponsor said 84% of students treated with school albuterol return to class. Support came from the Montana School Boards Association, the Montana Medical Association, pediatric pulmonologists, tribal representatives, and the American Lung Association.
Proponents described training requirements, annual DPHHS guidance, and that stock albuterol would not replace a student's prescribed inhaler or parental responsibility to provide medication. No opponents were recorded in the transcript; stakeholders emphasized the bill's stakeholder-driven drafting and readiness to provide model policies for districts. Representative Cunningham closed urging the committee to pass the measure to prevent asthma-related emergencies and keep students in school.
