1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 914 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1709
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
John F. Keenan
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to save lives by distributing narcan to individuals at risk for an overdose.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John F. KeenanNorfolk and PlymouthJames B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/10/2025Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex2/19/2025 1 of 1
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 914 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1709
By Mr. Keenan, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1709) of John F. Keenan, James B.
Eldridge and Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to distribute Narcan to a detainee or prisoner at
risk for an overdose upon discharge from a correctional facility. Public Safety and Homeland
Security.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act to save lives by distributing narcan to individuals at risk for an overdose.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 17C of chapter 127 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official
2Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:-
3 A state or county correctional facility, as defined in section 1 of chapter 125, shall, upon
4discharge of a detainee or prisoner who has: (i) a history of using opioids; (ii) been diagnosed
5with opioid use disorder; or (iii) experienced an opioid-related overdose, educate the individual
6on the use of opioid antagonists, provide information about where the individual can access
7opioid antagonists in the community, and dispense not less than 2 doses of an opioid antagonist
8to the individual or their legal guardian. The commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations
9necessary to implement this section.