Bill Text: IA HF2132 | 2015-2016 | 86th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to the possession and administration of emergency drugs by first responders for purposes of treating drug overdose victims. (See Cmte. Bill HF 2380)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-23 - Withdrawn. H.J. 546. [HF2132 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2015-HF2132-Introduced.html
House File 2132 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY KLEIN A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the possession and administration of 2 emergency drugs by first responders for purposes of treating 3 drug overdose victims. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 5137YH (3) 86 jh/nh PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 147A.1, Code 2016, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsections: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 6A. "First responder" means an emergency 1 4 medical care provider, a fire fighter, or a peace officer as 1 5 defined in section 801.4. 1 6 NEW SUBSECTION. 6B. "Licensed health care professional" 1 7 means the same as defined in section 280.16. 1 8 NEW SUBSECTION. 6C. "Opioid antagonist" means a drug that 1 9 binds to opioid receptors and blocks or inhibits the effects of 1 10 opioids acting on those receptors, including but not limited 1 11 to naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting drug 1 12 approved by the United States food and drug administration. 1 13 NEW SUBSECTION. 6D. "Opioid=related overdose" means 1 14 a condition affecting a person which may include extreme 1 15 physical illness, a decreased level of consciousness, 1 16 respiratory depression, a coma, or the ceasing of respiratory 1 17 or circulatory function resulting from the consumption or use 1 18 of an opioid, or another substance with which an opioid was 1 19 combined. 1 20 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 147A.18 Possession and administration 1 21 of an opioid antagonist == immunity. 1 22 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the 1 23 contrary, a licensed health care professional may prescribe 1 24 an opioid antagonist in the name of a service program, law 1 25 enforcement agency, or fire department to be maintained for use 1 26 as provided in this section. 1 27 2. A service program, law enforcement agency, or fire 1 28 department may obtain a prescription for and maintain a supply 1 29 of opioid antagonists. A service program, law enforcement 1 30 agency, or fire department that obtains such a prescription 1 31 shall replace an opioid antagonist upon its use or expiration. 1 32 3. A first responder employed by a service program, law 1 33 enforcement agency, or fire department that maintains a supply 1 34 of opioid antagonists pursuant to this section may possess 1 35 and provide or administer such an opioid antagonist to an 2 1 individual if the first responder reasonably and in good faith 2 2 believes that such individual is experiencing an opioid=related 2 3 overdose. 2 4 4. The following persons, provided they have acted 2 5 reasonably and in good faith, shall not be liable for any 2 6 injury arising from the provision, administration, or 2 7 assistance in the administration of an opioid antagonist as 2 8 provided in this section: 2 9 a. A first responder who provides, administers, or assists 2 10 in the administration of an opioid antagonist to an individual 2 11 as provided in this section. 2 12 b. A service program, law enforcement agency, or fire 2 13 department. 2 14 c. The prescriber of the opioid antagonist. 2 15 5. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 2 16 17A to implement and administer this section, including but 2 17 not limited to standards and procedures for the prescription, 2 18 distribution, storage, replacement, and administration of 2 19 opioid antagonists, and for the training required for first 2 20 responders to administer an opioid antagonist. 2 21 EXPLANATION 2 22 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 23 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 24 This bill authorizes emergency medical service programs, law 2 25 enforcement agencies, and fire departments to obtain a supply 2 26 of opioid antagonists, and first responders to possess opioid 2 27 antagonists for administration to drug overdose victims. 2 28 The bill defines "first responder" as an emergency medical 2 29 care provider, a fire fighter, or a peace officer as defined 2 30 in Code section 801.4. The bill defines "licensed health care 2 31 professional" as a person licensed under Code chapter 148 to 2 32 practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and 2 33 surgery, an advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed 2 34 under Code chapter 152 or 152E and registered with the board of 2 35 nursing, or a physician assistant licensed to practice under 3 1 the supervision of a physician as authorized in Code chapters 3 2 147 and 148C. "Opioid antagonist" is defined as a drug that 3 3 binds to opioid receptors and blocks or inhibits the effects of 3 4 opioids acting on those receptors, including but not limited 3 5 to naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting drug 3 6 approved by the United States food and drug administration. 3 7 The bill defines "opioid=related overdose" as a condition 3 8 affecting a person which may include extreme physical illness, 3 9 a decreased level of consciousness, respiratory depression, a 3 10 coma, or the ceasing of respiratory or circulatory function 3 11 resulting from the consumption or use of an opioid, or another 3 12 substance with which an opioid was combined. 3 13 The bill provides that a licensed health care professional 3 14 may prescribe an opioid antagonist in the name of a service 3 15 program, law enforcement agency, or fire department. The 3 16 service program, law enforcement agency, or fire department may 3 17 maintain a supply of opioid antagonists. From that supply, a 3 18 first responder may possess and administer an opioid antagonist 3 19 to an individual, so long as the first responder reasonably and 3 20 in good faith believes that such individual is experiencing an 3 21 opioid=related overdose. 3 22 The bill provides immunity from legal liability to any first 3 23 responder, emergency medical service program, law enforcement 3 24 agency, fire department, and the person who prescribed the 3 25 opioid antagonist from any injury arising from the provision or 3 26 administration of an opioid antagonist, so long as such person 3 27 acted reasonably and in good faith. 3 28 The bill directs the department of public health to adopt 3 29 rules to implement and administer the bill, including but not 3 30 limited to standards and procedures for the prescription, 3 31 distribution, storage, replacement, and administration of 3 32 opioid antagonists, and for training to be required for first 3 33 responders to administer an opioid antagonist. 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