| Chapter 250 |
| 2019 -- S 0953 Enacted 07/15/2019 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE GOOD SAMARITAN OVERDOSE PREVENTION ACT OF 2016 |
| Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Algiere, McCaffrey, Goodwin, and Coyne |
| Date Introduced: June 05, 2019 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 21-28.9-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 21-28.9 entitled "The |
| Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Act of 2016" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 21-28.9-3. Authority to administer opioid antagonists -- Release from liability. |
| (a) A person may administer an opioid antagonist to another person if: |
| (1) They, in good faith, believe the other person is experiencing a drug overdose; and |
| (2) They act with reasonable care in administering the drug to the other person. |
| (b) A Any person, including law enforcement personnel and emergency medical |
| personnel, who administers administer administers an opioid antagonist to another person |
| pursuant to this section shall not be subject to civil liability or criminal prosecution as a result of |
| the administration of the drug. |
| (c)(1) State and municipal law enforcement personnel and emergency medical personnel |
| to include, but not limited to, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and fire |
| department personnel may provide and transfer an opioid antagonist to an individual or to his or |
| her responsible family member, friend, or other person, along with instructions on administration |
| and use of the opioid antagonist, to provide opioid overdose protection to the individual, in the |
| good-faith judgment of the law enforcement or emergency medical personnel, who is at |
| substantial risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose event. Law enforcement and |
| emergency medical personnel may exercise their good-faith judgment based on their experience, |
| training, knowledge, observations, and information provided by the individual at substantial risk |
| of experiencing an opioid-related overdose event or from the individual's family, friend, or others |
| with knowledge of the individual's prior opioid use. |
| (2) State and municipal law enforcement personnel and emergency medical personnel |
| acting in good faith shall not, as a result of acts or omission in providing services in accordance |
| with subsection (c) of this section, be liable for civil damages, unless the acts or omission |
| constitute willful and wanton misconduct. |
| (d) Law enforcement officers or agencies participating in the HOPE (Heroin-Opioid |
| Prevention Effort) initiative or program and acting in good faith shall not, as the result of acts or |
| omissions in providing services, be subject to civil liability or criminal prosecution unless the acts |
| or omissions constitute willful and wanton misconduct. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC002765 |
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