Villa Legislation to Protect Students with Special Health Needs Advances out of House Education Committee

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – To help ensure that students with special health needs and school staff are prepared in the event of a medical emergency, state Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, is sponsoring legislation that would allow students with pancreatic conditions to self-administer necessary medication, expanding upon protections already in place for those with asthma and food allergies.

“There is only so much that can be done to prevent a medical emergency, so it is critical that students with pancreatic conditions and other special health needs, as well as school staff, know how to handle emergency situations if and when they occur,” said Villa.  “This legislation will ensure that students with special health needs are able to self-administer potentially lifesaving medication in the event of a crisis.”

Villa is sponsoring Senate Bill 1250, which will allow any student with an Asthma Action Plan, an Individual Health Care Action Plan, an Illinois Food Allergy Emergency Action Plan, a 504 plan, or an Individualized Education Program (IEP), with a note from a parent and doctor, to self-administer any medication related to their special health needs.  Villa’s legislation will also require schools to adopt an emergency action plan in the event a student is unable to self-administer their medication.  The measure recently passed out of the Illinois House Elementary and Secondary Education: School Curriculum and Policies Committee with overwhelming bipartisan support.

“From my experience working in a school setting, I know that medical emergencies happen, sometimes with little or no warning,” continued Villa.  “I urge lawmakers in the House to quickly approve this legislation to help ensure that students and school staff are prepared when medical crises arise.”

For more information, contact Villa’s constituent services office at 630-326-9319 or StateRepKarinaVilla@gmail.com.