House Bill 1550, also known as Senate Bill 1716, amends Tennessee law regarding the management of allergic reactions in schools. The bill emphasizes that both public and nonpublic schools should be prepared to treat allergic reactions, particularly when a student's personal epinephrine is unavailable or if it is the student's first reaction. Schools are encouraged to maintain epinephrine in at least two secure, unlocked locations, such as the administrative office and cafeteria. Additionally, the bill allows physicians to prescribe epinephrine in the name of a school, enabling trained personnel to administer it in emergencies when a student lacks a personal supply or prescription.

The bill also includes provisions to protect healthcare providers and school personnel from liability when administering epinephrine. Specifically, it states that a prescribing physician will not be held responsible for injuries resulting from the use of epinephrine unless there is intentional disregard for safety. Similarly, school nurses and trained staff are protected from liability unless they administer the medication with intentional disregard for safety. Furthermore, the bill updates the terminology in existing law by replacing "an epinephrine auto-injector" with "epinephrine." This legislation is set to take effect upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-50-1602(f), 49-50-1602, 68-140-501(1), 68-140-501