Lawmakers approve bill requiring allergy meds in school

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The New Jersey Assembly and Senate have unanimously passed a bill that seeks to address the growing number of school-age children with food allergies.

The measure, approved Thursday, would also allow school nurses or other trained officials to administer treatment.

Under current law, school officials must have parent authorization before giving epinephrine to students suffering from an allergic reaction. But lawmakers say it's possible for allergic reactions to develop among students for the first time during school hours.

The bill now goes to Gov. Chris Christie for his consideration.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that 1 in 20 children in the U.S. have food allergies -- a 50 percent increase from the 1990s.

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