| Chapter 204 |
| 2015 -- S 0154 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/10/2015 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS |
| Introduced By: Senators Goldin, Miller, Pichardo, Jabour, and Ottiano |
| Date Introduced: February 05, 2015 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is |
| hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 16-21-35. Opioid-related drug overdose -- Use of opioid antagonists -- Immunity for |
| those administering. – (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the |
| following meanings: |
| (1) "Opioid antagonist" means any drug that binds to opioid receptors and blocks or |
| disinhibits the effects of opioids acting on those receptors, including naloxone hydrochloride, |
| also known as Narcan or naloxone. |
| (2) "Opioid-related drug overdose" means a condition including, but not limited to, |
| extreme physical illness, decreased level of consciousness, respiratory depression, coma, or death |
| resulting from the consumption or use of an opioid or another substance with which an opioid |
| was combined, or that a layperson would reasonably believe to be an opioid-related drug |
| overdose that requires medical assistance. |
| (3) "School setting" means circumstances occurring while at school or at school- |
| sponsored events or activities. |
| (b) All public middle schools, junior high schools, and high schools, shall provide and |
| maintain on-site in each school facility opioid antagonists, as defined herein. |
| (c) To treat a case of suspected opioid overdose in a school setting, any trained nurse- |
| teacher may administer an opioid antagonist, during an emergency, to any student or staff |
| suspected of having an opioid-related drug overdose whether or not there is a previous history of |
| opioid abuse. School nurse-teachers may receive training in the administration of opioid |
| antagonists provided by the department of health. Provided, school physicians shall prepare |
| standing orders for the procedures to be followed in dealing with a suspected opioid overdose in a |
| school setting. Such standing orders shall not require any school nurse-teacher to administer an |
| opioid antagonist. |
| (d) Opioid antagonists shall be maintained in quantities and types deemed adequate by |
| the department of elementary and secondary education and the department of health, which shall |
| incorporate into their policies, rules, and regulations a procedure for addressing incidents of |
| opioid-related drug overdose in order to provide for the health and safety of children. Any policy, |
| rule, or regulation shall ensure that the opioid antagonist is kept in a conspicuous place, readily |
| available, but with provisions made for the safekeeping and security of the opioid antagonist so |
| that the security of the medication will not be compromised. |
| (e) No school nurse-teacher shall be liable for civil damages that may result from acts or |
| omissions relating to the use of the opioid antagonist that may constitute ordinary negligence; nor |
| shall the school personnel mentioned in this subsection be subject to criminal prosecution that |
| may result from acts or omissions in the good faith administration of an opioid antagonist. This |
| immunity does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton |
| conduct. |
| (f) No school nurse-teacher shall be subject to penalty or disciplinary action for refusing |
| to be trained in the administration of an opioid antagonist. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC000503/SUB A/3 |
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