BILL ANALYSIS Ó Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary Senator Kevin de León, Chair SB 669 (Huff) - Emergency medical care: epinephrine auto-injectors. Amended: May 7, 2013 Policy Vote: Health 8-0, Judic. 7-0 Urgency: No Mandate: Yes Hearing Date: May 20, 2013 Consultant: Brendan McCarthy This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: SB 669 would authorize a prehospital emergency medical care person, first responder, or lay rescuer to use an epinephrine auto-injector to render emergency medical care, under certain circumstances. Fiscal Impact: One-time costs of $450,000 for the adoption and amendment of regulations by the Emergency Medical Services Authority (General Fund). Ongoing costs of $250,000 for training and oversight by the Emergency Medical Services Authority (General Fund). Background: Under current law, the Emergency Medical Services Authority develops guidelines and standards for emergency medical systems, including standards for training and the scope of practice for emergency medical personnel. Under current law, school districts and county offices of education are authorized to designate school personnel to receive training to use an epinephrine auto-injector to render emergency medical care under certain conditions. Proposed Law: SB 669 would authorize a prehospital emergency medical care person, first responder, or lay rescuer to use an epinephrine auto-injector to render emergency medical care. In order to provide care under the bill, specified conditions must be met, for example the auto-injector must be obtained by prescription and the person using the auto-injector must have completed a course of training and be certified. SB 669 (Huff) Page 1 The bill authorizes a pharmacy to dispense an epinephrine auto-injector provided certain conditions are met, for example the epinephrine auto-injector has been prescribed and the auto-injector is labeled in a specified manner. The bill requires the Emergency Medical Services Authority to establish standards for training and the use of epinephrine auto-injectors as authorized in the bill. The bill exempts school districts and county offices of education from the requirements of the bill. Staff Comments: Current regulations developed by the Emergency Medical Services Authority specify the duties and authorities of prehospital emergency medical care personnel and first responders. Current regulations allow such personnel to use an epinephrine auto-injector to render emergency medical care while performing their duties as part of an organized emergency medical service system. Such personnel are not authorized to take such actions independently (e.g. when such a person is off-duty). Because this bill would create a process for prehospital emergency medical care personnel and first responders to provide emergency medical care outside of an organized emergency medical service system, existing regulations will need to be amended to conform with the requirements of this bill. The only costs that may be incurred by a local agency relate to crimes and infractions. Under the California Constitution, such costs are not reimbursable by the state.