Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0464 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2025 -- S 0464
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7	7	LC000773
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE GOOD SAMARITAN OVERDOSE
16	16	PREVENTION ACT OF 2016
17	17	Introduced By: Senators Murray, DiMario, Euer, Gallo, Felag, LaMountain, Mack,
18	18	Thompson, Acosta, Urso, and Valverde
19	19	Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
20	20	Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services
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23	23	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
24	24	SECTION 1. Chapter 21-28.9 of the General Laws entitled "The Good Samaritan Overdose 1
25	25	Prevention Act of 2016" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
26	26	21-28.9-6. Opioid overdose prevention in college/university housing. 3
27	27	(a) Every college or university of higher education chartered in the State of Rhode Island 4
28	28	shall provide training in the administration of opioid antagonists to every staff member employed 5
29	29	in its student residential department, including resident assistants. Such colleges and universities 6
30	30	shall provide and maintain onsite, in each college/university-owned or college/university-operated 7
31	31	housing, opioid antagonists in quantities and types required by the department of health. Such 8
32	32	opioid antagonists shall be accessible by every staff member for use during emergencies to any 9
33	33	student, staff, or other individual on college/university-owned or college/university-operated 10
34	34	housing premises suspected of having an opioid-involved overdose, even if there exists a previous 11
35	35	history of opioid use. 12
36	36	(b) Each college or university described in subsection (a) of this section may designate 13
37	37	additional employees who volunteer to administer opioid antagonists in the event a resident 14
38	38	assistant is not physically present at a suspected overdose incident; provided that, such employee 15
39	39	is trained in the administration of opioid antagonists by a program approved by the department of 16
40	40	health. 17
41	41	(c) Any person or entity acting reasonably and in good faith in compliance with the 18
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44	44	LC000773 - Page 2 of 3
45	45	provisions of this section shall not, as the result of acts or omissions in providing services pursuant 1
46	46	to this section, be subject to administrative liability, civil liability or criminal prosecution unless 2
47	47	the acts or omissions constitute willful and wanton misconduct, nor shall they be subject to liability, 3
48	48	penalty, or disciplinary action based on college/university rules, regulations, or procedures. 4
49	49	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 5
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51	51	LC000773
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55	55	LC000773 - Page 3 of 3
56	56	EXPLANATION
57	57	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
58	58	OF
59	59	A N A C T
60	60	RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE GOOD SAMARITAN OVERDOSE
61	61	PREVENTION ACT OF 2016
62	62	***
63	63	This act would mandate every college or university in Rhode Island to provide training in 1
64	64	the administration of opioid antagonists to every staff member employed in the college’s or 2
65	65	university's student residential department, including resident assistants, and would also authorize 3
66	66	those colleges and universities to include trained employee volunteers to act in accordance with 4
67	67	this act. This act would also provide that the college or university and all such staff members be 5
68	68	exempt from administrative liability, civil liability or criminal prosecution as a result of 6
69	69	administering opioid antagonists. 7
70	70	This act would take effect upon passage. 8
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72	72	LC000773
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