What's happening
Gio's Law requires all police, fire, sheriff, and emergency medical personnel in New York to be trained in and carry emergency anaphylaxis (epinephrine) treatment in their vehicles.
Why it matters
Expands rapid access to lifesaving epinephrine. By requiring all first responders—police, fire, sheriff, and EMS—to carry and be trained in emergency anaphylaxis treatment, the bill addresses the critical minutes when severe allergic reactions can become fatal before an ambulance arrives.
Standardizes training and refreshers. The mandate for initial and biennial (every two years) refresher training means responders will be better prepared to recognize and treat anaphylaxis, reducing the risk of improper administration and increasing confidence in emergency situations.
Improves emergency communication and protocols. The law requires responders to contact emergency medical services whenever anaphylaxis is suspected and to follow established response protocols, ensuring coordinated care and better outcomes for patients.
Reflects growing public health concern. With food allergies and severe allergic reactions on the rise, this measure acknowledges the changing nature of public safety needs and places New York at the forefront of proactive anaphylaxis response policy.
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Headline styles
Require EpiPens for First Responders
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require EpiPens for First Responders
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
484
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KAMINSKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, the county law, the general municipal law and the public health law, in relation to enacting "Gio's Law" requiring that members of police departments, sheriff's departments, fire departments and emergency medical service providers be trained in the administration of emergency anaphylaxis treatment and to carry emergency anaphylaxis treatment in their vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Gio's Law".
§ 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 233 to read as follows:
§ 233. Emergency anaphylaxis treatment training and use. 1. As used in this section, the term "emergency anaphylaxis treatment" shall mean an epinephrine auto-injector device, as such term is defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section three thousand-c of the public health law, or another form of emergency anaphylaxis treatment approved by the commissioner of health.
2. All members of the state police shall be required to be trained in the administration of emergency anaphylaxis treatment and shall carry emergency anaphylaxis treatment in their vehicles when on duty.
3. All members of the state police shall:
(a) complete an initial training program on emergency anaphylaxis treatment;
(b) complete a refresher training program at least every two years;
(c) contact the emergency medical system during any response to an incident of suspected anaphylaxis and advise if emergency anaphylaxis treatment is being used; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02024-01-9
S. 484 2
(d) comply with protocols for response to incidents of suspected anaphylaxis.
§ 3. The county law is amended by adding a new section 663 to read as follows:
§ 663. Emergency anaphylaxis treatment training and use. 1. As used in this section, the term "emergency anaphylaxis treatment" shall mean an epinephrine auto-injector device, as such term is defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section three thousand-c of the public health law, or another form of emergency anaphylaxis treatment approved by the commissioner of health.
2. All sheriffs, undersheriffs, and deputy sheriffs shall be required to be trained in the administration of emergency anaphylaxis treatment and shall carry emergency anaphylaxis treatment in their vehicles when on duty.
3. All sheriffs, undersheriffs and deputy sheriffs shall:
(a) complete an initial training program on emergency anaphylaxis treatment;
(b) complete a refresher training program at least every two years;
(c) contact the emergency medical system during any response to an incident of suspected anaphylaxis and advise if emergency anaphylaxis treatment is being used; and
(d) comply with protocols for response to incidents of suspected anaphylaxis.
§ 4. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section 209-gg to read as follows:
§ 209-gg. Emergency anaphylaxis treatment training and use. 1. As used in this section, the term "emergency anaphylaxis treatment" shall mean an epinephrine auto-injector device, as such term is defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section three thousand-c of the public health law, or another form of emergency anaphylaxis treatment approved by the commissioner of health.
2. All members of a police or fire department organized at the county, city, village, town, or district level shall be required to be trained in the administration of emergency anaphylaxis treatment and shall carry emergency anaphylaxis treatment in their vehicles when on duty.
3. All members of a police or fire department organized at the county, city, village, town, or district level shall:
(a) complete an initial training program on emergency anaphylaxis treatment;
(b) complete a refresher training program at least every two years;
(c) contact the emergency medical system during any response to an incident of suspected anaphylaxis and advise if emergency anaphylaxis treatment is being used; and
(d) comply with protocols for response to incidents of suspected anaphylaxis.
§ 5. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 3000-e to read as follows:
§ 3000-e. Emergency anaphylaxis treatment training and use. 1. As used in this section, the term "emergency anaphylaxis treatment" shall mean an epinephrine auto-injector device, as such term is defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section three thousand-c of this article, or another form of emergency anaphylaxis treatment approved by the commissioner.
2. Anyone who provides emergency medical services shall be required to be trained in the administration of emergency anaphylaxis treatment and
S. 484 3
shall carry emergency anaphylaxis treatment in their vehicle when on duty.
3. Anyone who provides emergency medical services shall:
(a) complete an initial training program on emergency anaphylaxis treatment;
(b) complete a refresher training program at least every two years;
(c) contact the emergency medical system during any response to an incident of suspected anaphylaxis and advise if emergency anaphylaxis treatment is being used; and
(d) comply with protocols for response to incidents of suspected anaphylaxis.
§ 6. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, the county law, the general municipal law and the public health law, in relation to enacting "Gio's Law" requiring that members of police departments, sheriff's departments, fire departments and emergency medical service providers be trained in the administration of emergency anaphylaxis treatment and to carry emergency anaphylaxis treatment in their vehicles
Purpose
To amend the Executive Law, the County Law, the General Municipal Law and the Public Health Law, in relation to requiring first responders to be trained in the administration of epinephrine through auto-injector, and to require initial and biannual training in the use of such items.
Summary of provisions
Section one names the bill "Gio's Law."
Section two of the bill amends the Executive Law by adding subsection 233 to provide that New York State Police carry epinephrine auto-injec- tors in their vehicles while on duty and that they:
a) Complete an initial training course on epinephrine auto-injectors;
b) Complete a refresher training course at least every two years;
c) Contact the emergency medical system during any response to an inci- dent of suspected anaphylaxis and advise if emergency anaphylaxis treat- ment is being administered, and;
d) Comply with protocols for response to incidents of suspected anaphy- laxis
Section three of the bill amends the County Law by adding section 663 to provide that a through e of section I apply to sheriffs, under-sheriffs, and deputy sheriffs.
Section four of the bill amends the Municipal law by adding section 209-gg to provide that a through e of section 1 apply to all members of a police or fire department organized at the county, city, village, town, or district level.
Section five of the bill amends the Public Health law by adding section 3000-e to provide that a through e of section 1 apply to anyone who provides emergency medical service.
Section six of the bill establishes the effective date.
Justification
Giovanni Cipriano, a resident of Lawrence, NY, was born with severe food allergies. At the young age of 14, Giovanni suffered an anaphylactic reaction and died.
In many areas, when a person dials 911, the first responders are often police officers or other emergency responders not trained in the admin- istration of emergency anaphylaxis treatment, nor do they even carry it. Many teachers, school bus drivers and parents are trained to administer this treatment, which highlights its importance; requiring first respon- ders to receive training and carry this treatment will help prevent many anaphylactic reactions.
Legislative history
S.8671 (Hannon) of 2018
Fiscal implications
Cost of initial training, auto-injectors and "refresher" training programs every two years.
Effective date
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.