The bill, H.B. No. 2995, amends the Education Code to enhance the provision of medication for respiratory distress in public and private schools. It introduces a new subsection (b-1) that allows the commissioner of state health services, or the chief medical executive if the commissioner is not a physician, to issue a statewide standing order for prescribing medication for respiratory distress to various educational institutions. Additionally, it clarifies that the standing order is not required to be patient-specific, enabling the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors or other medications without a prior physician-patient relationship.

Furthermore, the bill adds Section 38.2115, which permits the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school or private school to contract with vendors for the provision of medication and related equipment for respiratory distress, as well as training for school personnel and volunteers authorized to administer such medication. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses of the legislature, or on September 1, 2025, if that vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 38.211 (Education Code 38)