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Branford Rep. Comey Helps EpiPen Public Venue Bill Become Law

On June 26, Governor Ned Lamont signed a bill pushed by freshman Branford State Representative Robin Comey (D, District 102) expanding public venue access to epinephrine.

"It builds off the work we had been doing locally," said Comey, a long-time advocate and supporter of Branford-based Food Allergy Education Network (FAEN), a non-profit providing programs, education and support to families impacted by life-threatening food allergies.

The FAEN program, founded in 2009 by Gina Mennett Lee, increased the level of food allergy awareness in Connecticut and across the country before its dissolution in October, 2018.

After a decade of advocating for safe and inclusive food allergy policies in schools and the broader Branford community, as a new State Representative this past session, Comey took that focus to the legislature, with the hope of making an impact on Connecticut's statewide healthcare policies on the issue.

Working with Senator Matt Lesser (D, District 9), she assisted in generating support for Senate Bill 706, a "stock entity" measure that will make epinephrine devices and EpiPens available in public venues, camps, preschools and entertainment businesses such as ball parks and arenas. Under the new law, workers at the venues will be trained in how to use EpiPens.

With Lamont's signature, Connecticut becomes the 35th state to have a stock entity epinephrine law.