​Reps. Hail House Passage of Improved Food Allergy Policies

From CT House Republicans: Reps. Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D- Fairfield) and Brenda Kupchick (R-Fairfield) hailed final passage by the House of Representatives of a proposal to better protect students who suffer from life-threatening food allergies.

The legislation was the product of recommendations of the Task Force to Study Life-Threatening Food Allergies in Schools, a task force created by previous legislation. One of the Task Force members was Fairfield resident and parent Jessica Curran. Both Reps. McCarthy Vahey and Kupchick advocated for Ms. Curran’s appointment to the Task Force.

“We proposed the Task Force that produced the recommendations because most Connecticut towns have different policies, many not crafted in concert with the Center of Disease Control (CDC) Protocols. This is a good first step in ensuring children's safety in Connecticut's 169 towns. There should be standards in every school district that comply with CDC guidelines and comply with current federal law,” said Rep. Kupchick.

“For parents of a child with a life-threatening food allergy, the simple act of sending their child off to school each day can be anxiety-inducing. This bill implements recommendations of the Task Force that will provide best practices and uniform guidelines across school districts and give families greater peace of mind,” Rep. McCarthy Vahey said. “We are committed to continuing this work to protect students with life threatening food allergies and provide support to school districts working to create effective guidelines.”

This bill makes several changes to education laws addressing food allergies in schools, including the following:

• Requires the state Department of Education (SDE) to revise as necessary existing guidelines for the management of students with life-threatening food allergies and glycogen storage disease and make these guidelines available to each local and regional board of education
• Extends the deadline by which local and regional boards of education must take certain actions established in current law about the management of students with such conditions
• Requires SDE to revise certain curriculum standards to address life-threatening food allergies and apply for funding to promote awareness about food allergies
• Requires SDE and the Department of Public Health to jointly develop and make available to boards of education a safety protocol for school bus drivers to follow when a student is experiencing a life-threatening food allergy emergency
• Allows bus drivers to administer epinephrine to students experiencing an allergic reaction and grants immunity to the bus drivers

According to the Task Force to Study Life-Threatening Food Allergies in Schools, an estimated eight percent of school children have food allergies, which equates to as many as two kids in every classroom.

Currently, both Massachusetts and Rhode Island require school bus drivers to be trained on administering epinephrine.

Ten years ago, Connecticut passed a law requiring school districts to have certain rules about foods that are served, sanitation and rules about administering medication, most especially for the life-saving Epipens, that are required to be in all schools.

The bill now heads to the state Senate for final legislative approval.

Photo courtesy of CT House Republicans