Pupil health: epinephrine delivery systems.

Assembly Member Sanchez's legislation to modernize school emergency allergy treatment protocols would broaden the types of epinephrine delivery devices available in California schools while maintaining existing safety standards for administration and oversight.

The measure replaces all references to "epinephrine auto-injectors" with "epinephrine delivery systems" in state education code, requiring public school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to maintain at least one FDA-approved epinephrine delivery system on campus. Schools must store these devices in accessible locations and ensure proper restocking after use or before expiration. Private schools retain the option to implement these measures voluntarily.

The bill preserves current requirements for training school personnel who volunteer to administer epinephrine, with the Superintendent reviewing training standards every five years in consultation with medical experts and advocacy organizations. These standards cover anaphylaxis recognition, proper device storage and use, emergency response procedures, and age-appropriate dosing guidelines. Students may continue to self-administer with written authorization from both a physician and parent/guardian. The measure maintains existing liability protections for trained volunteers who administer epinephrine in emergencies, except in cases of gross negligence.

As an urgency statute, the bill would take effect immediately upon enactment. The Commission on State Mandates will determine whether the changes constitute state-mandated costs requiring reimbursement to local educational agencies.