ATLANTA – State Representative Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna) today announced that Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 440 into law on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Savannah. Sponsored by Rep. Stoner, HB 440 will allow public and private schools in Georgia to acquire and keep a supply of glucagon, a medication used to treat severe hypoglycemia in people with diabetes, starting July 1, 2023.
“I want to thank Governor Kemp for signing this bipartisan bill into law,” said Rep. Stoner. “This new law will save children’s lives by allowing school nurses and/or trained school health professionals to provide lifesaving treatment to children during a severe hypoglycemic episode while at school.”
Rep. Stoner joined Gov. Kemp during a bill signing ceremony for various education-related bills at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront. Rep. Stoner was joined by his wife, Della, a longtime advocate for diabetes issues. The following co-sponsors and supporters of HB 440 also attended the ceremony: State Representatives Chris Erwin (R-Homer), chairman of the House Education Committee; Carl Gillard (D-Savannah), chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus; Edna Jackson (D-Savannah); Craig Harper, executive director of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE); and Hayward Cordy, president of the PAGE Foundation.
HB 440 will allow prescribers, such as physicians and nurse practitioners, to provide standing orders or prescriptions for ready-to-use glucagon to schools so that this medication can be rapidly administered to students in an emergency. Schools will also be able to work directly with glucagon manufacturers or third-party suppliers to obtain the products for free or at fair market or reduced prices. The Georgia General Assembly unanimously passed HB 440 during the 2023 legislative session, which adjourned last month.
The following organizations have also expressed support of HB 440: the American Diabetes Association, Georgia School Superintendents Association, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, Georgia Association of School Nurses and Georgia Association of Educators.
Rep. Doug Stoner represents House District 40, which covers parts of Smyrna, Vinings and Mableton. He previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2002 to 2004 and in the Georgia Senate from 2004 to 2012.
For more information about this legislation, please click here.
Representative Doug Stoner represents the citizens of District 40, which includes portions of Cobb County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and re-elected in 2022. He currently serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and the Judiciary and Public Health committees.
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