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OLR Bill Analysis
HB 5597
AN ACT CONCERNING OPIOIDS.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a 10-member task force to study protocols used
by first responders, emergency medical services and hospital
personnel, police officers, and medical examiners following an opioid
overdose death. The task force must report its findings and
recommendations to the Public Health and Public Safety committees
by January 1, 2022. The task force terminates on that date or the date it
submits its report, whichever is later.
The bill also requires the DPH commissioner, by January 1, 2022, to
(1) establish guidelines for the use of evidence-based, non-
pharmaceutical therapies to treat chronic pain, including chiropractic
treatment and physical therapy, and (2) conduct educational and
outreach activities to raise awareness of these guidelines.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2021, except that the task force provision
takes effect upon passage.
TASK FORCE MEMBERS A ND MEETINGS
Under the bill, the task force consists of the emergency services and
public protection and public health commissioners, or their designees,
and the following appointed members: (1) two each by the House
speaker and Senate president pro tempore and (2) one each by the
House and Senate majority and minor ity leaders. Appointing
authorities must make their initial appointments within 30 days after
the bill’s passage and fill any vacancies. Members appointed by
legislative leaders may be legislators.
The bill requires the House speaker and Senate president pro
tempore to select the task force’s chairpersons from among its 2021HB-05597-R000410-BA.DOCX
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members. The chairpersons must schedule the task force’s first
meeting, which must be held within 60 days after the bill’s passage.
The Public Health Committee’s administrative staff must serve as the
task force’s administrative staff.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Health Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 33 Nay 0 (03/29/2021)