ALEXANDRIA, VA–(Marketwired – Apr 7, 2014) – The American Diabetes Association(Association) is thrilled to announce the passage of Tennessee Senate Bill 1445, the latest victory in the Association’s ongoing fight to keep children with diabetes medically safe at school. This bill was signed in to law by Governor Bill Haslam and allows school employees who volunteer to be trained to assist children with insulin administration.
The bill was sponsored State Senator Steven Dickerson (District 20). Dickerson serves as the 2nd vice chair of the Senate Education Committee and is a member of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. A similar bill was introduced in the House by State Representative Cameron Sexton (District 25), a member of the House Health Committee and Health Subcommittee. Representative Sexton and Senator Dickerson are dedicated leaders in keeping children with diabetes safe at school and were instrumental in the success of this legislation.
“The American Diabetes Association thanks Governor Haslam for his support of Senate Bill 1445. The passage of this legislation marks a major step forward in advancing the health and safety of all students with diabetes in Tennessee,” said Kristie Prichard Ryan, Executive Director, American Diabetes Association, Tennessee. “Insulin administration is critical to the daily lives of anyone living with diabetes. Moving forward, no child will lack the support they need at school, and no parent will be left to worry if someone is available to assist their child.”
A number of devoted Association volunteers including Chris Kato, Nashville Advocacy Chair and Dan Moore, Knoxville Advocacy Chair were instrumental in advocating for Safe at School legislation in Tennessee. In addition, John Anderson, MD, Immediate Past President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association and Daniel Moore, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist and diabetes advocate, helped build vital support in advancing the effort to ensure children living with diabetes in Tennessee have access to the care they need at school.
