House Panel OKs Bill Targeting Food Allergies At Day Care Centers

Press release from from State Representative Jonathan Carroll's Office:

March 10, 2021

Illinois school districts and day care centers would be required to follow new protocols to prevent and respond to life-threatening allergic reactions under legislation adopted by an Illinois House committee on Wednesday.

The measure, House Bill 102, sponsored by State Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook), was approved 23-0 by the House Elementary & Secondary Education on March 3.

The legislation, which is modeled after a New York law, comes in response to the death of a three-year-old boy who was fed a grilled cheese sandwich at a New York City preschool in 2017 despite having a known severe dairy allergy.

“As a parent of a child with food allergies, I know all too well the fear of what could happen when my child is out of my sight,” said Carroll. “Anyone who is trusted to care for children should be properly trained in how to prevent and manage allergic reactions, so they don’t result in devastating outcomes, or better yet, don’t occur in the first place.”

The bill aims to reduce the risk of dangerous allergic reactions by requiring the Illinois Department of Public Health, in consultation with the State Board of Education and the Department of Children and Family Services, to establish anaphylactic policies for school districts and day cares, Carroll explained. The policies would include training for staff on how to communicate with parents about their child’s allergies and what to do in the case of an allergic reaction.

Carroll was joined at the hearing by Thomas Silvera, the father of three-year-old Elijah Silvera who died from a severe allergic reaction at the day care.

“To pass this law, Elijah’s Law is important not just to my family, but also for al families who have children suffering with severe food allergies,” said Silvera. “What my son Elijah has taught us is that challenges are simply an opportunity to use our superpowers, and that limitation are invitations to change the world as we know it.”

The bill now moves to the full House for consideration.

This press release was produced by from State Representative Jonathan Carroll's Office. The views expressed here are the author's own.