An act relating to the use and maintenance of epinephrine at child care facilities
H.574 would authorize child care providers in Vermont to keep a stock supply of epinephrine on site and to designate trained employees or volunteers to administer it in emergencies. The bill allows a health care professional to prescribe epinephrine in the provider’s name and issue a standing order with protocols for recognizing anaphylaxis, administering the medication, contacting emergency services, documenting the incident, and disposing of used or expired doses. It also permits providers to obtain epinephrine through free, reduced-cost, or fair-market arrangements with manufacturers or suppliers.
The bill further requires the Division, in consultation with the Department of Health, to adopt rules for managing life-threatening allergies in child care settings. Those rules must address allergen-exposure prevention, emergency response procedures, individualized allergy management plans for children with known severe allergies, training requirements for staff, and public availability of facility protocols and policies. The act would take effect July 1, 2026.
If enacted, H.574 would amend Title 33 by adding a new section governing epinephrine stock supplies and emergency use in child care facilities. It would create legal authority for child care providers to possess and use epinephrine for both children with known allergies and any person at the facility experiencing suspected anaphylaxis, even without a personal prescription. The bill also provides civil and criminal immunity for trained personnel, providers, and prescribing health care professionals, except in cases of intentional misconduct, and clarifies that administering epinephrine under the section is not the practice of medicine. In addition, it directs state agencies to promulgate rules that would standardize allergy prevention and emergency response practices across child care providers.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the measure appears to be framed as a child safety and emergency preparedness bill with an overall supportive policy orientation. Its structure suggests an effort to make child care facilities better equipped to respond quickly to severe allergic reactions and to reduce hesitation by staff through training and liability protections. No contrary positions are documented in the available materials, so there is no recorded public opposition or amendment debate to indicate divided sentiment.
The main policy issues likely to draw attention are the scope of authority given to child care staff, the liability protections, and the regulatory burden on providers. Some stakeholders may question whether allowing nonmedical personnel to administer epinephrine to individuals without a prescription is sufficiently controlled, while others may support that flexibility as necessary for emergency response. The rulemaking requirements could also be a point of concern for providers if they add training, documentation, and public-posting obligations. The bill’s immunity provisions and the requirement for individualized allergy plans may be viewed as important safeguards by supporters and as potential areas for implementation detail by regulators.