S.B. No. 340
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a grant program to assist law
enforcement agencies with the purchase of opioid antagonists.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 772.0078 to read as follows:
Sec. 772.0078. OPIOID ANTAGONIST GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In
this section:
(1) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal
justice division established under Section 772.006.
(2) "Opioid antagonist" and "opioid-related drug
overdose" have the meanings assigned by Section 483.101, Health and
Safety Code.
(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and
administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to a law
enforcement agency in this state that seeks to provide opioid
antagonists to peace officers, evidence technicians, and related
personnel who, in the course of performing their duties, are likely
to come into contact with opioids or encounter persons suffering
from an apparent opioid-related drug overdose.
(c) A law enforcement agency may apply for a grant under
this section only if the agency first adopts a policy addressing the
usage of an opioid antagonist for a person suffering from an
apparent opioid-related drug overdose.
(d) In an application for a grant under this section, the
law enforcement agency shall provide information to the criminal
justice division about the frequency and nature of:
(1) interactions between peace officers and persons
suffering from an apparent opioid-related drug overdose;
(2) calls for assistance based on an apparent
opioid-related drug overdose; and
(3) any exposure of peace officers, evidence
technicians, or related personnel to opioids or suspected opioids
in the course of performing their duties and any reactions by those
persons to those substances.
(e) A law enforcement agency receiving a grant under this
section shall, as soon as practicable after receiving the grant,
provide to the criminal justice division proof of purchase of the
opioid antagonists.
(f) The criminal justice division may use any money
available for purposes of this section.
SECTION 2. The criminal justice division of the governor's
office is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the
legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
purpose, the criminal justice division of the governor's office
may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this Act using
other appropriations available for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 340 passed the Senate on
April 25, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 340 passed the House on
May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 7, two
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor