AB 337

This bill generally expands to prefilled syringes of epinephrine certain current

law authority related to epinephrine auto-injectors. Under the bill, a prefilled

syringe is a device that is used for the manual injection of epinephrine into the

human body to prevent or treat a life-threatening allergic reaction, is approved by

the federal Food and Drug Administration, and contains a dose of epinephrine.

Current law allows designated school personnel, school nurses, and authorized

entities and individuals who have completed a training program to provide or

administer epinephrine auto-injectors to pupils and other individuals. Authorized

entities are those entities or organizations that operate or participate in a business,

activity, or event where anaphylaxis-causing allergens may be present, and

examples of these entities or organizations include restaurants, camps, institutions

of higher education, places of employment, amusement parks, and sports leagues

and arenas. The bill allows the same individuals and entities to also provide or

administer epinephrine prefilled syringes.

Pupils are also allowed under current law to possess and use an epinephrine

auto-injector in certain circumstances while in school, participating in a

school-sponsored activity, or under supervision by a school. Under the bill, pupils

are also allowed to possess and use epinephrine prefilled syringes under those same

circumstances.

In addition, current law allows prescribers to prescribe epinephrine

auto-injectors in the name of the school or the name of the authorized entity or

individual. This bill provides the same prescribing authority for epinephrine

prefilled syringes.

Furthermore, the bill allows any prescriber to issue a standing order for the

dispensing of epinephrine auto-injectors or prefilled syringes for use by trained

individuals. The bill also allows a prescriber who is employed by or under contract

with the Department of Health Services to issue a statewide standing order for the

dispensing of epinephrine auto-injectors or prefilled syringes for use by trained

individuals. Under current law, certain prescribers are allowed to issue standing

orders for the dispensing of an opioid antagonist, which counteracts an opioid

overdose, and DHS has issued a statewide standing order for the dispensing of the

opioid antagonist naloxone.