by Cameron Arcand
Arizona schools will soon be able to stock a medication used in emergency situations for those with diabetes.
House Bill 2174 was sponsored by Rep. Beverly Pingerelli, R-Peoria, and it would allow a school district to ask each year for a “standing order for glucagon” to allow for “emergency administration” from a school nurse, according to the bill’s text.
At a ceremonial bill signing at Cherokee Elementary in Paradise Valley on Wednesday, Hobbs said that these situations could mean “life or death.”
Glucagon is considered a last-ditch option for those with diabetes that need who are facing issues involving low blood sugar, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In terms of cost, school districts as well as charter schools are allowed to seek funding to help pay for the medication.
“A school district or charter school may accept monetary donations for or apply for grants to purchase glucagon or may participate in third-party programs to obtain glucagon at no cost, at a fair market price or at a reduced price,” the bill states.
The bill passed the House unanimously in February and passed the Senate with a singular vote against it in March. Hobbs signed the bill that same month, but ceremonial signings are typically done during the legislative session to raise public awareness. Bills without an emergency clause take 90 days after the legislative session to take effect, meaning that the requests for glucagon may not start in time for the beginning of the next school year, depending upon when the session concludes.
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Cameron Arcand is a staff reporter for The Center Square covering Arizona. A contributor since 2022, Arcand previously worked for Salem Media Group and The Western Journal.
Photo “Katie Hobbs” by Katie Hobbs.
