Epinephrine Entity Bill

Background

The epinephrine entity bill has gone through more than a half dozen committees successfully, and was included in both the omnibus* Senate health bill and omnibus House of Representatives health bill in the Minnesota Legislature. 

Both the Senate omnibus bill and the House omnibus bill now go to Conference Committee, where the differences between the bills will be negotiated until the language lines up identically.  All the bills' items must be debated and decided before a final, identical bill version can be created by the Conference Committee.
 

Can Differences Be Resolved?

Since there is a slight difference in language between the epinephrine provisions from the Senate and House bills - and, more significantly, the Senate bill appropriates money for the Minnesota Department of Health to implement the policy but the House bill does not appropriate any money - the Conference Committee debating all the differences (not just the epinephrine provision) between the House and Senate bills will also debate the epinephrine language differences.

If the Conference Committee is successful, the final (identical) version is sent back to the House of Representatives and to the Senate to be voted on once again by each.  (If it passes both the House and Senate, then it will go to the governor to be signed into law or to be vetoed.)
 

Now is the time to call, email, visit, or fax!

Ask for their support of the epinephrine provision.  Share your personal story if you like.  Try to keep things brief, if possible.  (And if you can, send their response or a copy of your letter or email to us.)
 

Here are the Conferees and links to their contact information -
Representative Matt Dean - 401 State Office Building;
St. Paul, MN 55155; 651-296-3018; Email: rep.matt.dean@house.mn

Representative Tara Mack - 545 State Office Building; 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; St. Paul, MN 55155; 651-296-5506; Email: rep.tara.mack@house.mn

Representative Joe McDonald - 503 State Office Building;
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; St. Paul, MN 55155; 651-296-4336; Email: rep.joe.mcdonald@house.mn

Representative Joe Schomacker - 509 State Office Building; 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; St. Paul, MN 55155; 651-296-5505; Email: rep.joe.schomacker@house.mn

Representative Nick Zerwas (Thank him for being the Chief Author of the epinephrine language!) - 433 State Office Building; 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; St. Paul, MN 55155; 651-296-4237; Email: rep.nick.zerwas@house.mn

Senator Tony Lourey - G-12 Capitol; 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd; St. Paul, MN 55155; 651-296-0293;
E-mail: sen.tony.lourey@senate.mn

Senator Kathy Sheran - G-12 Capitol; 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd; St. Paul, MN 55155; 651-296-6153; E-mail: sen.kathy.sheran@senate.mn

Senator Jeff Hayden - 208 Capitol; 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd; St. Paul, MN 55155; 651-296-4261;
E-mail: Email Link

Senator Melisa Franzen - 306 Capitol; 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd; St. Paul, MN 55155; 651-296-6238;
E-mail: Email Link

Senator Julie A. Rosen - 39 State Office Building; 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; St. Paul, MN 55155;651-296-5713 E-mail: sen.julie.rosen@senate.mn
 

More information about each legislator on the Conference Committee can be read on their individual page (which can be found by typing their name in this legislator search link).
 
 
 

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*An omnibus bill contains many, many bills dealing with similar issues ("everything but the kitchen sink") and is an effective way to debate and vote for legislation more quickly and efficiently.

Senator Jim Carlson (chief author of the Senate bill) flanked by Max Narvaez and 2015 Youth Walk Ambassadors, twins Anna and Josie Pitts, Nona Narvaez (seated), and  Melanie Pitts (standing), in the Senate Health, Human Services and Housing Committee.

 

Tips -

  • Be Brief in your phone call, email, or letter
  • Tell Your Story of why epinephrine accessibility is important
  • Always be Polite even if disagreeing + thank them

 

Not sure who your Representative and Senator are?  Click "Who Represents Me?" to find out.

THE BEGINNING - BILL INTRODUCTION
 
A bill to allow restaurants, museums, zoos, sports leagues, camps, and other venues to stock non-patient specific epinephrine has been introduced in the Minnesota Legislature this session. Commonly called an "entity bill," HF1604 would allow various entities to store epinephrine on-site without a physician's prescription and use it in the event of an emergency.

 

 

Rep. Nick Zerwas
If the bill passes through the Legislature and is signed into law by the governor, the Minnesota Department of Health will evaluate applications from venues that wish to stock epinephrine and ensure that their staff is trained in anaphylaxis recognition and epinephrine administration by approved trainers. 

 

The bill sponsor in the MN House of Representatives is Rep. Nick Zerwas of Elk River.
 
"I equate it to the AED (automated external defibrillator," said Zerwas. AEDs are found in public places and available for anyone to use in an emergency.
 
Senator Jim Carlson of Eagan is the Senate sponsor.   Carlson has worked on epinephrine legislation in the past, such as the school accessibility bill spearheaded by AFAA in 2004.

 

 

Sen. Jim Carlson
AFAA has reviewed the bill language and offered suggestions for amendments that can offered during committee hearings.  AFAA will work to organize witnesses to testify in committee hearings, and to rally public support and communication from constituents to their legislators.
 
The bill is anticipated to have a hearing this Friday [March 13th] in the House of Representatives Health and Human Services Reform Committee.  Supporters who are constituents of committee members are encouraged to contact committee members to express their support.
 
Stay tuned to your email in-box and AFAA's Facebook Page for upcoming legislative developments.

-by Sue Hegarty, Food Allergy Magazine, Winter 2015