HARRISBURG – Philadelphia County Senators Christine Tartaglione and Nikil Saval announced the introduction of Senate Bill 1054, legislation that would require all PA high schools to maintain naloxone or Narcan onsite and to follow procedures developed by the Department of Education in consultation with the Health Department for responding to opioid overdoses. It would mark the first statutory requirement to guarantee uniformity and preparedness in every high school across the state.While the legislation ensures every high school is ready to respond, it also protects the rights of school employees who are uncomfortable or unwilling to participate in overdose response efforts. Under the bill, a school employee’s designation as an opioid emergency responder would be strictly voluntary and no school may compel any employee to receive training or respond to an overdose emergency against their will. In addition, any employee who volunteers to complete training must do so during regular working hours or be compensated appropriately if the training occurs outside their normal schedule. The bill now awaits referral to a standing committee.
