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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 8, 2024 12:28 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Barry J. Jozwiak |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Assault of a First Responder |
| An increase in fatalities, which shows no signs of abating, can largely be attributed to the rise of the unlawful sale and usage of fentanyl, an opiate-based drug that can be at least 50 times more potent than heroin. According to the current Administrator of the DEA, “[f]entanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered.” Fentanyl is not only deadly to those who willfully ingest it, as evidenced by the numerous first responders who have suffered overdoses following exposure to the drug. In response to the marked increase in the use and trafficking of fentanyl in this Commonwealth and the demonstrable dangers it poses to first responders, I intend to introduce legislation to protect those serving on the frontlines of efforts to combat this deadly crisis. Specifically, my legislation will provide that a person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly causes a first responder to come into contact with fentanyl. Because of its potency, exposure to even minute amounts of fentanyl can lead to an emergency responder’s overdose or death. Please join me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation to protect our first responders. |
Introduced as HB2249