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AN ACT relating to opioid antagonists. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 217.186 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) As used in this section, "opioid antagonist" means naloxone or any other United 4
States Food and Drug Administration-approved drug designed to reverse the effects 5
of an opioid overdose. 6
(2) (a) A licensed health care[health-care] provider who, acting in good faith, 7
directly or by standing order, prescribes or dispenses an opioid antagonist to a 8
person or agency who, in the judgment of the health care[health-care] 9
provider, is capable of administering the drug for an emergency opioid 10
overdose, shall not, as a result of his or her acts or omissions, be subject to 11
disciplinary or other adverse action under KRS Chapter 311, 311A, 314, or 12
315 or any other professional licensing statute. 13
(b) As used in this subsection, "licensed health care[health-care] provider" 14
includes a pharmacist as defined in KRS 315.010 who holds a separate 15
certification issued by the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy authorizing the 16
initiation of the dispensing of an opioid antagonist under subsection (6) of this 17
section. 18
(3) A prescription for an opioid antagonist may include authorization for administration 19
of the drug to the person for whom it is prescribed by a third party, if the 20
prescribing instructions indicate the need for the third party, upon administering the 21
drug, to immediately notify a local public safety answering point of the situation 22
necessitating the administration. 23
(4) A person or agency, including a peace officer, jailer, firefighter, paramedic, or 24
emergency medical technician or a school employee authorized to administer 25
medication under KRS 156.502, may: 26
(a) Receive a prescription for an opioid antagonist; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 319
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(b) Possess an opioid antagonist pursuant to this subsection and any equipment 1
needed for its administration; 2
(c) Administer an opioid antagonist to an individual suffering from an apparent 3
opioid-related overdose; and 4
(d) Provide, as part of a harm-reduction[harm reduction] program, an opioid 5
antagonist to persons who have been trained on the mechanism and 6
circumstances of its administration. 7
(5) A person acting in good faith who provides or administers an opioid antagonist 8
received under this section shall be immune from criminal and civil liability for the 9
provision or administration, unless personal injury results from the gross negligence 10
or willful or wanton misconduct of the person providing or administering the drug. 11
(6) (a) The Board of Pharmacy, in consultation with the Kentucky Board of Medical 12
Licensure, shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with 13
KRS Chapter 13A to establish certification, educational, operational, and 14
protocol requirements to implement this section. 15
(b) Administrative regulations promulgated under this subsection shall: 16
1. Require that any dispensing under this section be done only in 17
accordance with a physician-approved protocol and specify the 18
minimum required components of any such protocol; 19
2. Require education as to the mechanism and circumstances for the 20
administration of an opioid antagonist for the person to whom an opioid 21
antagonist is dispensed; and 22
3. Require that a record of the dispensing be made available to a physician 23
signing a protocol under this subsection, if desired by the physician. 24
(c) Administrative regulations promulgated under this subsection may include: 25
1. A supplemental educational or training component for a pharmacist 26
seeking certification under this subsection; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 319
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2. A limitation on the forms of the opioid antagonist and means of its 1
administration that may be dispensed pursuant to this subsection. 2
(7) (a) The board of each local public school district and the governing body of each 3
private and parochial school or school district may permit a school to keep an 4
opioid antagonist on the premises and regulate the administration of an opioid 5
antagonist to any individual suffering from an apparent opiate-related 6
overdose. 7
(b) In collaboration with local health departments, local health providers, and 8
local schools and school districts, the Kentucky Department for Public Health 9
shall develop clinical protocols to address supplies of an opioid antagonist 10
kept by schools under this subsection[section] and to advise on the clinical 11
administration of an opioid antagonist. 12
(8) (a) Each public postsecondary educational institution shall provide access to 13
opioid antagonists at convenient locations on campus in a sufficient 14
number to adequately serve the population of the institution. Access may be 15
provided through the installation of emergency opioid antagonist cabinets 16
that include: 17
1. Instructions for administration of the opioid antagonist and specific 18
instructions to call emergency medical services; 19
2. One (1) rescue breathing barrier device with gloves and alcohol; and 20
3. Any other information or equipment determined to be necessary by the 21
Kentucky Department for Public Health. 22
(b) In collaboration with public postsecondary educational institutions, the 23
Kentucky Department for Public Health shall develop best practices and 24
clinical protocols to address supplies of opioid antagonists to be provided on 25
campuses under this subsection and to advise on the clinical administration 26
of opioid antagonists. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 319
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(c) Each public postsecondary educational institution may apply for funds from 1
the opioid abatement trust fund established in KRS 15.293 and any other 2
available funds to coordinate, maintain, and supply the opioid antagonists 3
required under this subsection. 4
(9) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a licensed health care 5
provider, including a pharmacist who is utilizing a protocol established by this 6
section, may dispense an opioid antagonist to any person or agency who, as part of 7
a harm-reduction[harm reduction] program, provides training to the public on the 8
mechanism and circumstances for the administration of an opioid antagonist, 9
regardless of whom the ultimate user of the opioid antagonist may be. The 10
documentation of the dispensing of an opioid antagonist to any person or agency 11
operating a harm-reduction[harm reduction] program shall satisfy any general 12
documentation or recording requirements found in administrative regulations 13
regarding legend drugs promulgated pursuant to this chapter. 14
Section 2. KRS 15.291 is amended to read as follows: 15
(1) There is hereby established the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. 16
The commission shall be attached to the Department of Law for administrative 17
purposes. 18
(2) (a) The commission shall consist of the following voting members: 19
1. The Attorney General or his or her designee, who shall act as chair; 20
2. The State Treasurer or his or her designee; 21
3. The secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or his or 22
her designee; 23
4. One (1) member appointed by the University of Kentucky from the 24
HEALing Communities Study Team; 25
5. One (1) member appointed by the Attorney General representing victims 26
of the opioid crisis; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 319
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6. One (1) member appointed by the Attorney General representing the 1
drug treatment and prevention community; 2
7. One (1) member appointed by the Attorney General representing law 3
enforcement; and 4
8. Two (2) citizens at large appointed by the Attorney General. 5
(b) The commission shall consist of the following nonvoting members who shall 6
serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority: 7
1. One (1) member appointed by the Speaker of the House of 8
Representatives; and 9
2. One (1) member appointed by the President of the Senate. 10
(3) (a) Members of the commission appointed under subsection (2)(a)1. to 3. of this 11
section shall serve terms concurrent with holding their respective offices or 12
positions. 13
(b) The remaining members of the commission shall serve staggered two (2) year 14
terms as follows: 15
1. Members of the commission appointed under subsection (2)(a)4. to 6. of 16
this section shall serve an initial term of two (2) years; and 17
2. Members of the commission appointed under subsection (2)(a)7. to 8. of 18
this section shall serve an initial term of one (1) year. 19
(c) Members of the commission shall not receive compensation for their services 20
but may be reimbursed for necessary travel and lodging expenses incurred in 21
the performance of their duties. 22
(4) (a) Meetings of the commission shall be conducted according to KRS 61.800 to 23
61.850. 24
(b) The commission shall meet at least twice within each calendar year. 25
(c) Five (5) voting members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the 26
transaction of business. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 319
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(d) Each member of the commission shall have one (1) vote, with all actions 1
being taken by an affirmative vote of the majority of members present. 2
(5) The commission shall award moneys from the opioid abatement trust fund 3
established in KRS 15.293 to reimburse prior expenses or to fund projects 4
according to the following criteria related to opioid use disorder (OUD) or any co-5
occurring substance use disorder or mental health (SUD/MH) issues: 6
(a) Reimbursement for: 7
1. Any portion of the cost related to outpatient and residential treatment 8
services, including: 9
a. Services provided to incarcerated individuals; 10
b. Medication-assisted treatment; 11
c. Abstinence-based treatment; and 12
d. Treatment, recovery, or other services provided by community 13
health centers or not-for-profit providers; 14
2. Emergency response services provided by law enforcement or first 15
responders; or 16
3. Any portion of the cost of administering an opioid antagonist as defined 17
in KRS 217.186; or 18
(b) Provide funding for any project which: 19
1. Supports intervention, treatment, and recovery services provided to 20
persons: 21
a. With OUD or co-occurring SUD/MH issues; or 22
b. Who have experienced an opioid overdose; 23
2. Supports detoxification services, including: 24
a. Medical detoxification; 25
b. Referral to treatment; or 26
c. Connections to other services; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 319
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3. Provides access to opioid-abatement-related housing, including: 1
a. Supportive housing; or 2
b. Recovery housing; 3
4. Provides or supports transportation to treatment or recovery programs or 4
services; 5
5. Provides employment training or educational services for persons in 6
treatment or recovery; 7
6. Creates or supports centralized call centers that provide information and 8
connections to appropriate services; 9
7. Supports crisis stabilization centers that serve as an alternative to 10
hospital emergency departments for persons with OUD and any co-11
occurring SUD/MH issues or persons that have experienced an opioid 12
overdose; 13
8. Improves oversight of opioid treatment programs to ensure evidence-14
based and evidence-informed practices; 15
9. Provides scholarships and support for certified addiction counselors and 16
other mental and behavioral health providers, including: 17
a. Training scholarships; 18
b. Fellowships; 19
c. Loan repayment programs; or 20
d. Incentives for providers to work in rural or underserved areas of 21
the Commonwealth; 22
10. Provides training on medication-assisted treatment for health care 23
providers, students, or other supporting professionals; 24
11. Supports efforts to prevent over-prescribing and ensures appropriate 25
prescribing and dispensing of opioids; 26
12. Supports enhancements or improvements consistent with state law for 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 319
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prescription drug monitoring programs; 1
13. Supports the education of law enforcement or other first responders 2
regarding appropriate practices and precautions when dealing with 3
opioids or individuals with OUD or co-occurring SUD/MH issues; 4
14. Supports opioid-related emergency response services provided by law 5
enforcement or first responders; 6
15. Treats mental health trauma issues resulting from the traumatic 7
experiences of opioid users or their family members; 8
16. Engages nonprofits, the faith community, and community coalitions to 9
support prevention and treatment, and to support family members in 10
their efforts to care for opioid users in their family; 11
17. Provides recovery services, support, and prevention services for women 12
who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or who are parenting with 13
OUD or co-occurring SUD/MH issues; 14
18. Trains healthcare providers that work with pregnant or parenting women 15
on best practices for compliances with federal requirements that children 16
born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome get referred to appropriate 17
services and receive a plan of care; 18
19. Addresses Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, including prevention, 19
education, and treatment of OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH issues; 20
20. Offers home-based wrap-around services to persons with OUD and any 21
co-occurring SUD/MH issues, including parent-skills training; 22
21. Supports positions and services, including supportive housing and other 23
residential services relating to children being removed from the home or 24
placed in foster care due to custodial opioid use; 25
22. Provides public education about opioids or opioid disposal; 26
23. Provides drug take-back disposal or destruction programs; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 319
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24. Covers the cost of administering an opioid antagonist as defined in KRS 1
217.186; 2
25. Supports pre-trial services that connect individuals with OUD and any 3
co-occurring SUD/MH issues to evidence-informed treatment and 4
related services; 5
26. Supports treatment and recovery courts for persons with OUD and any 6
co-occurring SUD/MH issues, but only if they provide referrals to 7
evidence-informed treatment; 8
27. Provides evidence-informed treatment, recovery support, harm 9
reduction, or other appropriate services to individuals with OUD and 10
any co-occurring SUD/MH issues who are incarcerated, leaving jail or 11
prison, have recently left jail or prison, are on probation or parole, are 12
under community corrections supervision, or are in re-entry programs or 13
facilities; 14
28. Meets the criteria included in any settlement agreement or judgment 15
between the parties listed in KRS 15.293(3)(a);[ or] 16
29. Provides access to opioid antagonists on the campuses of public 17
postsecondary educational institutions as provided in Section 1 of this 18
Act; or 19
30. Any other project deemed appropriate for opioid-abatement purposes by 20
the commission. 21
(6) The commission may identify additional duties or responsibilities, including: 22
(a) Reporting on projects and programs related to addressing the opioid epidemic; 23
(b) Developing priorities, goals, and recommendations for spending on the 24
projects and programs; 25
(c) Working with state agencies or outside entities to develop measures for 26
projects and programs that address substance use disorders; or 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 319
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(d) Making recommendations for policy changes on a state or local level, 1
including statutory law and administrative regulations. 2
(7) The commission shall: 3
(a) Create and maintain a website[Web site] on which it shall publish its minutes, 4
attendance rolls, funding awards, and reports of funding by recipients; and 5
(b) Promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A 6
to implement this section. The commission may promulgate emergency 7
administrative regulations to take effect immediately so that funds may be 8
distributed more quickly and efficiently to combat the opioid epidemic. 9