Bill Text: TX SB629 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: Relating to the maintenance, administration, and disposal of opioid antagonists on public and private school campuses and to the permissible uses of money appropriated to a state agency from the opioid abatement account.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-6)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-18 - Effective immediately [SB629 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB629-Comm_Sub.html

---

By: Menéndez, et al. S.B. No. 629
(In the Senate - Filed January 26, 2023; February 17, 2023,
read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
May 1, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 12, Nays 0; May 1, 2023,
sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 629 By: West

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of opioid antagonists on public and private
school campuses and at or in transit to or from off-campus school
events and to the permissible uses of money appropriated to a state
agency from the opioid abatement account.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 38,
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. MAINTENANCE, [AND] ADMINISTRATION, AND DISPOSAL OF
EPINEPHRINE AUTO-INJECTORS, OPIOID ANTAGONISTS, AND ASTHMA
MEDICINE
SECTION 2. Section 38.201, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as
follows:
(1) "Advisory committee" means the stock medicine
advisory committee established under Section 38.202.
(3-a) "Opioid antagonist" and "opioid-related drug
overdose" have the meanings assigned by Section 483.101, Health and
Safety Code.
SECTION 3. The heading to Section 38.202, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 38.202. STOCK MEDICINE ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION.
SECTION 4. Sections 38.202(a) and (b), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) The commissioner of state health services shall
establish a stock medicine [an] advisory committee to examine and
review the administration of epinephrine auto-injectors to a person
experiencing an anaphylactic reaction, and opioid antagonists to a
person experiencing an apparent opioid-related drug overdose, on a
campus of a school district, an open-enrollment charter school, a
private school, or an institution of higher education.
(b) The advisory committee shall be composed of members
appointed by the commissioner of state health services. In making
appointments, the commissioner shall ensure that:
(1) a majority of the members are physicians with
expertise in treating anaphylaxis or opioid-related drug
overdoses, including physicians who specialize in the fields of
pediatrics, allergies, asthma, drug use disorders, and immunology;
(2) at least one member is a registered nurse employed
by a school district, open-enrollment charter school, or private
school as a school nurse;
(3) at least one member is an employee of a general
academic teaching institution; and
(4) at least one member is an employee of a public
junior college or a public technical institute.
SECTION 5. Section 38.207, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 38.207. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: DUTIES. The advisory
committee shall advise the commissioner of state health services
on:
(1) the storage and maintenance of epinephrine
auto-injectors and opioid antagonists on school campuses and
campuses of institutions of higher education;
(2) the training of school personnel and school
volunteers, and of personnel and volunteers at institutions of
higher education, in the administration of an epinephrine
auto-injector and opioid antagonist; and
(3) a plan for:
(A) one or more school personnel members or
school volunteers trained in the administration of an epinephrine
auto-injector to be on each school campus; [and]
(B) one or more school personnel members or
school volunteers trained in the administration of an opioid
antagonist to be on each school campus;
(C) one or more personnel members or volunteers
of an institution of higher education trained in the administration
of an epinephrine auto-injector to be on each campus of an
institution of higher education; and
(D) one or more personnel members or volunteers
of an institution of higher education trained in the administration
of an opioid antagonist to be on each campus of an institution of
higher education.
SECTION 6. The heading to Section 38.208, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 38.208. MAINTENANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OF EPINEPHRINE
AUTO-INJECTORS, OPIOID ANTAGONISTS, AND ASTHMA MEDICINE.
SECTION 7. Sections 38.208(a), (b), (c), (d), and (e),
Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Each school district, open-enrollment charter school,
and private school may adopt and implement a policy regarding the
maintenance, administration, and disposal of epinephrine
auto-injectors or opioid antagonists at each campus in the district
or school.
(b) If a policy is adopted under Subsection (a), the policy,
as applicable:
(1) must provide that school personnel and school
volunteers who are authorized and trained may administer an
epinephrine auto-injector to a person who is reasonably believed to
be experiencing anaphylaxis, or an opioid antagonist to a person
who is reasonably believed to be experiencing an opioid-related
drug overdose, on a school campus; and
(2) may provide that school personnel and school
volunteers who are authorized and trained may administer an
epinephrine auto-injector to a person who is reasonably believed to
be experiencing anaphylaxis, or an opioid antagonist to a person
who is reasonably believed to be experiencing an opioid-related
drug overdose, at an off-campus school event or while in transit to
or from a school event.
(c) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human
Services Commission, in consultation with the commissioner of
education, and with advice from the advisory committee as
appropriate, shall adopt rules regarding the maintenance,
administration, and disposal of an epinephrine auto-injector and
opioid antagonist at a school campus subject to a policy adopted
under Subsection (a) and the maintenance and administration of
asthma medicine at a school campus subject to a policy adopted under
Subsection (a-1). The rules must establish:
(1) the number of epinephrine auto-injectors and
opioid antagonists available at each campus;
(2) the amount of prescription asthma medicine
available at each campus;
(3) the process for each school district,
open-enrollment charter school, and private school to check the
inventory of epinephrine auto-injectors, opioid antagonists, and
asthma medicine at regular intervals for expiration and
replacement; and
(4) the amount of training required for school
personnel and school volunteers to administer an epinephrine
auto-injector or opioid antagonist.
(d) Each school district, open-enrollment charter school,
and private school that adopts a policy under Subsection (a) must
require that each campus have one or more school personnel members
or school volunteers authorized and trained to administer an
epinephrine auto-injector or an opioid antagonist, as applicable,
present during all hours the campus is open.
(e) The supply of epinephrine auto-injectors and opioid
antagonists at each campus must be stored in a secure location and
be easily accessible to school personnel and school volunteers
authorized and trained to administer an epinephrine auto-injector
or opioid antagonist. The supply of asthma medicine at each campus
must be stored in a secure location and be easily accessible to the
school nurse.
SECTION 8. Section 38.209, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 38.209. REPORT ON ADMINISTERING EPINEPHRINE
AUTO-INJECTOR OR OPIOID ANTAGONIST. (a) Not later than the 10th
business day after the date a school personnel member or school
volunteer administers an epinephrine auto-injector or opioid
antagonist in accordance with a policy adopted under Section
38.208(a), the school shall report the information required under
Subsection (b) to:
(1) the school district, the charter holder if the
school is an open-enrollment charter school, or the governing body
of the school if the school is a private school;
(2) the physician or other person who prescribed the
epinephrine auto-injector or opioid antagonist; and
(3) the commissioner of state health services.
(b) The report required under this section must include the
following information:
(1) the age of the person who received the
administration of the epinephrine auto-injector or opioid
antagonist;
(2) whether the person who received the administration
of the epinephrine auto-injector or opioid antagonist was a
student, a school personnel member or school volunteer, or a
visitor;
(3) the physical location where the epinephrine
auto-injector or opioid antagonist was administered;
(4) the number of doses of epinephrine auto-injector
or opioid antagonist administered;
(5) the title of the person who administered the
epinephrine auto-injector or opioid antagonist; and
(6) any other information required by the commissioner
of education.
SECTION 9. Sections 38.210(a) and (b), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) Each school district, open-enrollment charter school,
and private school that adopts a policy under Section 38.208(a) is
responsible for training school personnel and school volunteers in
the administration of an epinephrine auto-injector or opioid
antagonist.
(b) Training required under this section must:
(1) include information on:
(A) recognizing the signs and symptoms of
anaphylaxis or an opioid-related drug overdose;
(B) administering an epinephrine auto-injector
or opioid antagonist;
(C) implementing emergency procedures, if
necessary, after administering an epinephrine auto-injector or
opioid antagonist; and
(D) properly disposing of used or expired
epinephrine auto-injectors or opioid antagonists;
(2) be provided in a formal training session or
through online education; and
(3) be provided in accordance with the policy adopted
under Section 21.4515.
SECTION 10. The heading to Section 38.211, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 38.211. PRESCRIPTION OF EPINEPHRINE AUTO-INJECTORS,
OPIOID ANTAGONISTS, AND ASTHMA MEDICINE.
SECTION 11. Sections 38.211(a), (b), (c), (e), and (f),
Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) A physician or person who has been delegated
prescriptive authority under Chapter 157, Occupations Code, may
prescribe epinephrine auto-injectors, opioid antagonists, or
asthma medicine in the name of a school district, open-enrollment
charter school, or private school.
(b) A physician or other person who prescribes epinephrine
auto-injectors, opioid antagonists, or asthma medicine under
Subsection (a) shall provide the school district, open-enrollment
charter school, or private school with a standing order for the
administration of, as applicable:
(1) an epinephrine auto-injector to a person
reasonably believed to be experiencing anaphylaxis; [or]
(2) an opioid antagonist to a person reasonably
believed to be experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose; or
(3) asthma medicine to a person reasonably believed to
be experiencing a symptom of asthma and who has provided written
notification and permission as required by Section 38.208(b-1).
(c) The standing order under Subsection (b) is not required
to be patient-specific, and the epinephrine auto-injector, opioid
antagonist, or asthma medicine may be administered to a person
without a previously established physician-patient relationship.
(e) An order issued under this section must contain:
(1) the name and signature of the prescribing
physician or other person;
(2) the name of the school district, open-enrollment
charter school, or private school to which the order is issued;
(3) the quantity of epinephrine auto-injectors,
opioid antagonists, or asthma medicine to be obtained and
maintained under the order; and
(4) the date of issue.
(f) A pharmacist may dispense an epinephrine auto-injector,
an opioid antagonist, or asthma medicine to a school district,
open-enrollment charter school, or private school without
requiring the name or any other identifying information relating to
the user.
SECTION 12. Section 38.212, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 38.212. NOTICE TO PARENTS. (a) Each [If a] school
district, open-enrollment charter school, or private school
[implements a policy under this subchapter, the district or school]
shall provide written notice to a parent or guardian of each student
enrolled in the district or school regarding any policies the
district or school implements under this subchapter.
(b) Notice required under this section must be provided
before a policy is implemented by the district or school and before
the start of each school year.
SECTION 13. Section 38.215(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A person who in good faith takes, or fails to take, any
action under this subchapter is immune from civil or criminal
liability or disciplinary action resulting from that action or
failure to act, including:
(1) issuing an order for epinephrine auto-injectors,
opioid antagonists, or asthma medicine;
(2) supervising or delegating the administration of an
epinephrine auto-injector, an opioid antagonist, or asthma
medicine;
(3) possessing, maintaining, storing, or disposing of
an epinephrine auto-injector, an opioid antagonist, or asthma
medicine;
(4) prescribing an epinephrine auto-injector, an
opioid antagonist, or asthma medicine;
(5) dispensing:
(A) an epinephrine auto-injector; [or]
(B) an opioid antagonist; or
(C) asthma medicine, provided that permission
has been granted as provided by Section 38.208(b-1);
(6) administering, or assisting in administering, an
epinephrine auto-injector, an opioid antagonist, or asthma
medicine, provided that permission has been granted as provided by
Section 38.208(b-1);
(7) providing, or assisting in providing, training,
consultation, or advice in the development, adoption, or
implementation of policies, guidelines, rules, or plans; or
(8) undertaking any other act permitted or required
under this subchapter.
SECTION 14. Section 403.505(d), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(d) A state agency may use money appropriated from the
account only to:
(1) prevent opioid use disorder through
evidence-based education and prevention, such as school-based
prevention, early intervention, or health care services or programs
intended to reduce the risk of opioid use by school-age children;
(2) support efforts to prevent or reduce deaths from
opioid overdoses or other opioid-related harms, including through
increasing the availability or distribution of naloxone or other
opioid antagonists for use by:
(A) health care providers;
(B) [,] first responders;
(C) [,] persons experiencing an opioid overdose;
(D) [,] families;
(E) [,] schools, including under a policy adopted
under Subchapter E, Chapter 38, Education Code, regarding the
maintenance, administration, and disposal of opioid antagonists;
(F) community-based service providers;
(G) [,] social workers;[,] or
(H) other members of the public;
(3) create and provide training on the treatment of
opioid addiction, including the treatment of opioid dependence with
each medication approved for that purpose by the United States Food
and Drug Administration, medical detoxification, relapse
prevention, patient assessment, individual treatment planning,
counseling, recovery supports, diversion control, and other best
practices;
(4) provide opioid use disorder treatment for youths
and adults, with an emphasis on programs that provide a continuum of
care that includes screening and assessment for opioid use disorder
and co-occurring behavioral health disorders, early intervention,
contingency management, cognitive behavioral therapy, case
management, relapse management, counseling services, and
medication-assisted treatments;
(5) provide patients suffering from opioid dependence
with access to all medications approved by the United States Food
and Drug Administration for the treatment of opioid dependence and
relapse prevention following opioid detoxification, including
opioid agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists;
(6) support efforts to reduce the abuse or misuse of
addictive prescription medications, including tools used to give
health care providers information needed to protect the public from
the harm caused by improper use of those medications;
(7) support treatment alternatives that provide both
psychosocial support and medication-assisted treatments in areas
with geographical or transportation-related challenges, including
providing access to mobile health services and telemedicine,
particularly in rural areas;
(8) address:
(A) the needs of persons involved with criminal
justice; and
(B) rural county unattended deaths; or
(9) further any other purpose related to opioid
abatement authorized by appropriation.
SECTION 15. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
school year.
SECTION 16. This Act takes effect immediately if it
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
* * * * *