TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A bill in Tallahassee which would require EpiPen and anaphylaxis training for some schools is one step closer to becoming law.
The Florida House passed the bill unanimously Wednesday afternoon. This comes after the Florida Senate passed the bill unanimously last week. It now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature to become law.
Recommended Videos
This is a story News 6 first broke back in 2023. Winter Park mom Sherry Isler has been pushing for the legislation ever since she discovered that her young son would not have access or help with his EpiPen while in after care at Aloma Elementary School.
After the Islers first shared their story, Orange County Public Schools told News 6 it now requires allergy and EpiPen training in all before and after school programs, but Isler wants to get results statewide.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
In 2024, state lawmakers from Orlando proposed legislation to require training in before and after school programs, but it never made it into committee.
This year, the issue is once again before lawmakers with House Bill 1197 and Senate Bill 1514.
“Right now, during regular school hours, (students) have an emergency action plan, an EAP, that says that if they have a EpiPen and if they had a reaction that they’ll get the EpiPen administered first and then 911 will be called, but it only covers regular school hours,” Isler said. “So this bill makes sure that the EAP is effective at all times when a student is on campus, including before and after care, extracurricular, school dances, sports.”
The bill has already been amended in a different senate committee and would now only apply to students in grades kindergarten through 8.
Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend anaphylaxis and EpiPen training for school staff, which many organizations offer for free.
The need may also be greater now than ever before. According to the CDC, food allergies are rising, now affecting one in every 13 kids.
“There have been children that have died from anaphylaxis at schools and it really shouldn’t happen. As long as they have training on how to prevent an allergic reaction and how to treat it immediately, nobody has to die,” Isler said.