Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, I will introduce legislation to help protect school-age children with adrenal insufficiency – a hormonal disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough adrenal hormones. Adrenal crises occur without warning and offer very little time to react and the failure to administer medication almost immediately is life-threatening. Adults with the disorder often carry their medication with them, while school children cannot, demonstrating the need for such medications in a school setting.

My bill would require schools to develop a written policy for the storage, possession, and self-administration of adrenal insufficiency medications in cases of adrenal crisis, just as current law requires such policies for asthma inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors ("EpiPens"). The Departments of Health and Education would provide technical assistance to schools and publicly-accessible information regarding the administration of such medication. Also, a school may authorize a trained employee to administer medication.

Please join me in supporting this life-saving initiative.