Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
04/03/2024 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): State Board of Education Report to the Legislature | |
| HB202 | |
| HB230 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 202 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 230 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 202-OPIOID OVERDOSE DRUGS IN SCHOOLS
9:17:38 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the next order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 202, "An Act relating to the
availability and administration of opioid overdose drugs in
public schools."
9:18:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DELENA JOHNSON, Alaska State Legislature, as
prime sponsor, introduced HB 202 and paraphrased the sponsor
statement [included in the committee packet], which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
Between 2018 and 2022, 886 drug overdose deaths
occurred in Alaska. Last year, Anchorage School
District officials reported at least ten opioid
overdoses over the course of one month, including five
of these overdoses happening in one day.
From August 17th, 2023, to February 9th, 2024, there
were 117 visits to emergency departments for kids aged
5-18 that occurred on school days that could have
happened at schools. Ten of these cases specifically
mentioned that the school the child attended was
involved, and many of these were proven to be
intentional overdoses.
The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration recommends that schools keep naloxone
on hand as fatal opioid overdose numbers rise. As of
October of 2023, 33 states had adopted laws that allow
schools or school employees to store and administer
Naloxone, according to Jon Woodruff, the managing
attorney at the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy
Association.
HB 202 will require all school districts to keep at
least two Naloxone kits in each main school building
and ensures that at least one person trained to
administer naloxone spray is present during all hours
that the main school building is open to students or
the public. This bill also requires school buses, each
school-sponsored event, on or off school grounds, and
all weekend activities sponsored by the school to have
at least one Naloxone kit present and at least one
person who is trained to administer. Finally, this
bill requires the Department of Health Commissioner to
develop and provide a short video to each school
district about how and when to administer Naloxone
nasal spray.
9:19:58 AM
SAVAYA BIEBER, Staff, Representative Delena Johnson, Alaska
State Legislature, gave the sectional analysis for HB 202
[included in the committee packet] on behalf of Representative
D. Johnson, prime sponsor, which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
Section 1 amends AS 14.30 by adding a new section: AS
14.30.145(a) requires each school district to ensure a
person who is trained to administer Naloxone is on
site when the main school building is open to the
public, before and after school, during each school-
sponsored event and all weekend activities, on or off
school grounds, and on school buses. This section also
requires each main school building to keep at least
two doses of Naloxone on site and at least one dose
available during school sponsored events and on school
buses while students are being transferred.
AS 14.30.145(b) would require the Commissioner of
Health to develop and provide a training video to each
school district.
AS 14.30.145(c) defines the terms "main school
building", "naloxone nasal spray", "opioid overdose
drug", "school district", and "school grounds".
Section 2 amends AS 17.20.085 by adding a new
paragraph:
AS 17.20.085(e) defines the terms "naloxone nasal
spray" and "school district".
Section 3 amends AS 17.20.085 by adding new
subsections: Notwithstanding a provision or rule of
law to the contrary, AS 17.20.085(f) allows a school
district, if acting under a standing order or protocol
under (a) or (c) of this section, to supply and
possess opioid overdose drugs for the purposes of AS
14.30.145. Notwithstanding a provision or rule of law
to the contrary, AS 17.20.085(g) allows a school
district acting under (a) or (c) of this section to
administer naloxone spray under AS 14.30.145 to a
person at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose.
9:22:00 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD stated that she was trying to understand why
there is not a "fiscal charge" as well as understanding the
liability regarding school bus drivers.
MS. BIEBER responded that subsection (2) in the bill related
information regarding the school bus driver but stated that she
was unsure how it is implemented with the contracts. She
offered to have the question directed to a Department of
Education & Early Development (DEED) staff member.
REPRESENTATIVE D. JOHNSON speculated that school bus drivers go
through a certain amount of training and the training for
naloxone administration is very simple, like a nasal spray. She
said she could find out more and get back to the committee.
9:24:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT questioned bus driver contracts and
expressed her concern regarding the effective date for the "bus
portion" and addressing separate contracts. She pointed out
line 2, on page 8, and asked whether the short training video
would be included in mandatory trainings that educators have
annually.
MS. BIEBER responded that she was not sure about the video and
stated that the training would not be for every teacher, just
one that would be trained to administer naloxone.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked whether the naloxone would be
free or DEED would distribute it to the schools. She further
inquired about an expiration date.
MS. BIEBER responded that each school district would have to
keep naloxone.
REPRESENTATIVE D. JOHNSON added that there are details that must
be worked out, and in regard to the fiscal note, the intention
is to work with the department to find funding through opioid
grant funding.
9:28:59 AM
MS. BIEBER confirmed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) announced a shelf-life extension for naloxone from three
years to four years.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT observed that the reality is districts
may be exposed to a liability they do not already have.
MS. BIEBER replied that she did not have an answer but would
research it.
9:29:59 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD commented on the possibility of the bus driver
being sued or fired because of the liability and questioned
whether the maintenance staff at school are involved. She
voiced her concern about protecting children but also employees.
REPRESENTATIVE D. JOHNSON confirmed that she and her staff are
present to try and sort things out and refine the bill.
9:32:26 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY offered her support for HB 202 but
expressed her concern regarding how districts were being
addressed about the bill and what their response was about staff
needing training.
REPRESENTATIVE D. JOHNSON related an example of speaking with an
acquaintance who was involved with the bill and highlighted the
importance of kits being available and training being kept to a
minimum. With the funds available, she indicated, this is
possible to do in Alaska.
9:35:13 AM
MS. BIEBER added that she talked to the Matanuska-Susitna
Borough School District and the kits are kept with school
nurses. She added that the Anchorage School District (ASD) has
been keeping them near the "safety stations" on the walls and
the supplies are from Project HOPE.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed interest in what rural school
districts have in place and what the costs would be. She also
inquired about the training for bus drivers.
9:37:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK opined that the proposed legislation is
critical and should be moved out today. He further inquired
whether any legal issues have cropped up in states where similar
legislation has been implemented.
REPRESENTATIVE D. JOHNSON responded that she was not aware of
legal issues forthcoming. She offered a comparison of people
being trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and that
she had not heard of anyone having any liability in performing
it better or not. She confirmed that she would look into the
liability piece.
9:40:08 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD offered her belief that the legislature would
like to vet the bill, and she suggested that training be open to
those who are 16 and older to look out for their peers but with
parent permission.
REPRESENTATIVE D. JOHNSON replied that she would not want [the
proposed legislation] to get unmanageable and force a school
district to add to their requirements or put a burden on
someone. She reiterated that the training to administer is
minimal and that she was open to possible amendments.
9:42:12 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE opened public testimony on HB 202.
9:43:04 AM
DJ TYSON, Director of Communications, Volunteers of America
(VOA) Alaska, testified in support of HB 202. He related
examples of what is happening with youth overdoses in schools
and noted that overdoses are happening without warning. He
opined that the passage of the bill would have the additional
impact of helping to normalize the administration of naloxone
and raise awareness for the potential to save lives in
communities.
9:45:12 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT shared that she did a police ride along
and was also taken into the evidence locker which contained
various drugs. She said the officers told her naloxone enables
people to go to more of an "edge" that they are looking for when
taking drugs, but she acknowledged that naloxone is known as
being a remedy to overdose. She asked whether there could be
unintended consequences of trying to make sure naloxone is
readily available.
MR. TYSON replied that naloxone is a safety device like a
seatbelt that saves lives, but that he could not speak to it
enabling or increasing use.
9:47:12 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE, after ascertaining there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 202.
9:47:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE D. JOHNSON commented that drug users know more
about drugs and drug effects; therefore, there would always be a
way to use something in a nefarious way or chase a greater high.
She stated that the bill specifically addressed students in
schools that may not have gotten to the level of sophisticated
drug use, thus would not have used drugs, such as naloxone, as
enhancement.
9:49:17 AM
MS. BIEBER added that DEED has a 15-minute free course online on
naloxone.
9:49:30 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX questioned whether universities should be
included in addition to the K-12 school system.
REPRESENTATIVE D. JOHNSON opined that the universities would
already have a sense of what needed to be done. She stated she
could contact the University of Alaska System (US) to see what
it may have in place.
9:51:18 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE expressed his support for the bill and
pointed out features in the Capitol building in reference to
first aid. He further confirmed that naloxone is very easy to
administer.
REPRESENTATIVE D. JOHNSON, in closing, stated she would
appreciate any input or amendments from committee members that
could make HB 202 more well-rounded.
MS. BIEBER thanked the committee for hearing the bill.
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that HB 202 was held over.