Posted: | May 22, 2017 02:58 PM |
---|---|
From: | Representative Frank Burns |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Drug Overdose Good Samaritan Law Amendment |
In the near future, I plan to offer companion legislation to Senator Yaw’s Senate Bill 654, which toughens existing state law relating to drug overdose response immunity. As you know, Act 139 of 2014 provided limited immunity from prosecution for certain drug violations for persons reporting drug overdose events as well as those experiencing them as long as certain conditions are met. While I support the good intention of Act 139, we have learned from first responders that they have been repeatedly called to the same location for the same individual experiencing a drug overdose event. It is imperative that we enact legislation to ensure that individuals suffering from drug-related diseases receive treatment. As such, this proposal will require, as a condition of immunity, that persons who have experienced drug overdose events to participate in treatment within 30 days. I hope you will join me in supporting this legislation in order to help those individuals suffering with drug addiction initiate treatment. Your consideration is appreciated. |
Introduced as HB1501