AUSTIN – Today, Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa concurred with changes made in the House to SB 66, a bill that relates to the use of epinephrine auto-injectors on public school campuses. With today's concurrence vote, SB 66 now heads to the Governor for final approval. SB 66 sets up a framework that encourages schools to make unassigned epinephrine auto-injectors available on all public school campuses and at off-campus school events.

Epinephrine auto-injectors are the first-line of treatment against anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and highly unpredictable. Failure to recognize and treat anaphylaxis with epinephrine as soon as the reaction is identified is a major risk factor for fatality.

In addition to detailing how schools should carry out the provisions in SB 66, the bill includes important liability protections for physicians, pharmacists, and school districts to make certain that fear of liability is not a factor in deciding to treat a student suffering from an anaphylactic reaction with epinephrine.

SB 66 was renamed the "Cameron Espinosa Act" in memory of Cameron Espinosa, a middle school student from Corpus Christi who died after having a severe allergic reaction to ant bites he sustained during a middle school football game. 66 was his football jersey number.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

"SB 66 is a necessary measure to protect our students from life-threatening yet treatable allergic reactions they may experience at school. For 25% of Texas children, the first episode of food-related anaphylaxis occurs at school without a previous allergy diagnosis.

The provisions in SB 66 are critical in ensuring that schools have the training and equipment necessary to respond to these severe reactions. The safety and well-being of our students is of the utmost importance, and I am honored to have authored SB 66 in memory of Cameron."

Cameron's mother, Josephine Limon Espinosa, released the following statement:

"I am very grateful to Senator Hinojosa for this bill. I want to make sure what happened to my son does not happen to someone else's child since it is something that can easily be prevented."

###