SB19-227 Summary

• Schools may adopt policies authorizing employees and agents to acquire, maintain, and administer opiate antagonists (naloxone) to individuals experiencing opioid overdose, with appropriate training covering overdose recognition, emergency services, and administration techniques.

• Creates the Opiate Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund in the state treasury, funded by participating entities' payments and donations, to enable bulk purchasing of opiate antagonists at reduced cost; the Department of Public Health and Environment manages the fund and provides technical assistance.

• Expands opiate antagonist prescribing and dispensing authority to include schools, school districts, and school employees; hospitals may operate clean syringe exchange programs; and non-private entities with automated external defibrillators may also make opiate antagonists available to the public.

• Extends immunity from civil liability and criminal prosecution to school employees and agents administering opiate antagonists in good faith, consistent with existing protections for first responders and harm reduction organizations.

• Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a policy for substance use disorder treatment programs to verify patient identity, including procedures for individuals without identification or experiencing homelessness; expands household medication take-back program to include safe collection and disposal of medication injection devices.