BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 579

By: Taylor, Van

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that private schools are not currently required to have epinephrine auto‑injectors available to treat individuals suffering from anaphylaxis who may have an undiagnosed food allergy. S.B. 579 seeks to enhance the safety of private school students by providing for the use of epinephrine auto-injectors on private school campuses and at or in transit to or from off-campus private school events.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 579 amends the Education Code to make statutory provisions relating to the use, maintenance, administration, and disposal of epinephrine auto-injectors on the campus of a public school district or an open-enrollment charter school and at or in transit to or from off‑campus school events applicable to a private school, applicable beginning with the 2017‑2018 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.