One of MACo’s Initiative was heard in the House Judiciary Committee on March 11, 2015.  Robin Clark, MACo Policy Analyst, testified in support of HB 898, Civil Actions- Immunity from Liability- Emergency Medical Care for Drug Overdose. This bill would provide civil immunity to emergency responders who are responding to a drug overdose by using the life saving drug nalaxone.

The written testimony states:

Law enforcement or emergency medical services are often the first to arrive on the scene of a drug overdose. Therefore, strides have been made to train and equip law enforcement and first responders with naloxone, a life-saving medication that reverses an opioid overdose by restoring the breathing of a person who has overdosed on heroin or prescription opioid such as oxycodone or morphine. HB 898 incorporates immunity protections for law enforcement and first responders trained and authorized to administer the medicine to an individual experiencing or believed to be experiencing a drug overdose.

For more on MACo’s 2015 legislation, visit the Legislative Database.