A bipartisan bill has been introduced into the Minnesota House that would require all school districts to have a supply of opioid antagonists such as Narcan.
The bill, HF 4305, is authored by DFL House Rep. Kelly Morrison and Republican Rep. Dave Baker. The bill would require all schools in MN to have anti-addiction/anti-overdose drugs in stock to protect students and administered by qualified medical workers.
“You gotta work together on these things,” Rep. Baker said about working with Rep. Morrison, “We just felt this was an important tool for school nurses in each building to have…” Representative Baker’s son Daniel had died from a drug overdose in 2011.
The bill would allow for schools to “enter into arrangements with suppliers” to get the drugs at varying prices, down to free. Rep. Baker said that the eventual goal is to get the medication to schools for free, as most schools want anti-opiates on-premises but are worried about the costs.
Rep. Morrison was the chief author of the bill and is the Vice. Chair of Health and Human Services Committee. Rep. Baker is on the Education Policy Committee, where the bill currently resides. There is no companion bill in the Senate.
Judah Torgerud
Judah Torgerud is a freelance journalist working with Alpha News to keep the people informed and bring the truth to light. Contact him at whqnu@nycunarjfza.pbz.
