Moreno (HB 754) Act No. 253
New law defines "first responder" as any of the following:
(1)Any full-time employee of the state, a municipality, a sheriff, or other public agency,
whose permanent duties actually include the making of arrests, the performing of
searches and seizures, or the execution of criminal warrants, and is responsible for
the prevention or detection of crime or for the enforcement of the penal, traffic, or
highway laws of this state, but not including any elected or appointed head of a law
enforcement department.
(2)A firefighter regularly employed by a fire department of any municipality, parish, or
fire protection district of the state of Louisiana, or any volunteer fireman of the state
of Louisiana.
(3)An EMS practitioner licensed pursuant to the laws of this state.
New law defines "opioid-related drug overdose" as a condition including extreme physical
illness, decreased level of consciousness, respiratory depression, coma, or the ceasing of
respiratory or circulatory function resulting from the consumption or use of an opioid, or
another substance with which an opioid was combined.
New law authorizes a first responder to receive a prescription for naloxone or another opioid
antagonist, maintain the naloxone or other opioid antagonist in the first responder's
possession, and administer the naloxone or another opioid antagonist to any individual who
is undergoing or who is believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose.
New law requires a first responder, before receiving a prescription for naloxone or another
opioid antagonist, to complete the training necessary to safely and properly administer
naloxone or another opioid antagonist to individuals who are undergoing or who are believed
to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose.
New law requires the training, at a minimum, to cover all of the following:
(1)Techniques on how to recognize symptoms of an opioid-related overdose.
(2)Standards and procedures for the storage and administration of naloxone or another
opioid antagonist.
(3)Emergency follow-up procedures.
New law requires the first responder to keep a record of each instance in which the first
responder administers naloxone or another opioid antagonist to an individual who is
undergoing or who is believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose.
New law authorizes a law enforcement agency or fire department to enter into a written
agreement to affiliate with an ambulance service provider or a physician for all of the
following purposes:
(1)Obtaining a supply of naloxone or another opioid antagonist.
(2)Allowing law enforcement officers and firefighters to obtain the training necessary
to safely and properly administer naloxone or another opioid antagonist to individuals
who are undergoing or who are believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug
overdose.
New law provides immunity from civil liability, criminal prosecution, or disciplinary or other
adverse action under any professional licensing statute to a first responder who, reasonably
believing another person to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose, administers
naloxone or another opioid antagonist to that person for any outcomes resulting from the
administration of the naloxone or another opioid antagonist to that person, unless personal
injury results from the gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct of the first
responder administering the drug. New law requires the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections to develop and promulgate a
set of best practices for use by a fire department or law enforcement agency in the
administration and enforcement of new law including but not limited to the training
necessary to safely and properly administer naloxone or another opioid antagonist to
individuals who are undergoing or who are believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug
overdose, the standards and procedures for the storage and administration of naloxone or
another opioid antagonist, and emergency follow-up procedures.
Effective Aug. 1, 2014.
(Adds R.S. 40:978.1)