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Ronald McDonald House and sponsors back bill to let schools keep and report naloxone use
Summary
Angela Hartley of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio testified in favor of HB57, which would allow schools to maintain and administer overdose‑reversal drugs, accept donations for medication purchases and require reporting of use and overdose trends to families and the Department of Education.
Angela Hartley, chief development officer at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, provided proponent testimony for House Bill 57, which would permit schools to adopt policies to keep and administer overdose‑reversal drugs (naloxone) and accept donations to purchase them.
Hartley told the committee that as the opioid crisis increasingly affects children and families, schools need policies that remove barriers to emergency response. She said the bill would also require schools to report use and overdose trends to families and the Ohio Department of Education, and it would allow donated medications to be used on campus. ‘‘This legislation is not only about saving lives, it’s about providing reassurance to families,’’ she said.
Committee members expressed support and asked whether the bill would ease liability concerns that currently make some districts hesitant to keep naloxone on campus; Hartley replied that a clear, bipartisan law would reduce stigma and liability confusion, making districts more willing to keep reversal drugs on hand.
The committee did not vote during the hearing; Hartley urged support.
