HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3279        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3591

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

John H. Rogers

_________________

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 relative to police use of epinephrine autoinjectors.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

John H. Rogers

12th Norfolk

1/20/2017

Angelo M. Scaccia

14th Suffolk

 

James E. Timilty

Bristol and Norfolk

 

Patricia A. Haddad

5th Bristol

 

David Paul Linsky

5th Middlesex

 

Aaron Vega

5th Hampden

 

Michael J. Finn

6th Hampden

 

Louis L. Kafka

8th Norfolk

 

Shawn Dooley

9th Norfolk

4/10/2017

Marc T. Lombardo

22nd Middlesex

4/11/2017

Paul Tucker

7th Essex

4/10/2017

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

 

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

 

Joseph D. McKenna

18th Worcester

4/11/2017

Brian Murray

10th Worcester

 

James J. Dwyer

30th Middlesex

 

F. Jay Barrows

1st Bristol

 

Carolyn C. Dykema

8th Middlesex

 

Kate D. Campanale

17th Worcester

 

Brian M. Ashe

2nd Hampden

 

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

 

Elizabeth A. Poirier

14th Bristol

 

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

 

James M. Cantwell

4th Plymouth

 

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

 

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

4/12/2017


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3279        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3591

By Mr. Rogers of Norwood, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3591) of John H. Rogers and others relative to police use of epinephrine autoinjectors.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act relative to police use of epinephrine autoinjectors.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 94C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting, after section 34A, the following section:-

Section 34B. (a) A police officer who, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing an anaphylactic reaction shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance under sections 34 or 35 if the evidence for the charge of possession of a controlled substance was gained as a result of the seeking of medical assistance.

(b) A person who experiences an anaphylactic reaction and is in need of medical assistance and, in good faith, seeks such medical assistance, or is the subject of such a good faith request for medical assistance, shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance under said sections 34 or 35 if the evidence for the charge of possession of a controlled substance was gained as a result of the anaphylactic reaction and the need for medical assistance.

(c) The act of seeking medical assistance for someone who is experiencing an anaphylactic reaction may be used as a mitigating factor in a criminal prosecution under the Controlled Substance Act,1970 P.L. 91–513, 21 U.S.C. section 801, et seq.

(d) Nothing contained in this section shall prevent anyone from being charged with trafficking, distribution or possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

(e) A police officer acting in good faith may receive an epinephrine autoinjector, possess an epinephrine autoinjector and administer an epinephrine autoinjector to an individual appearing to experience an anaphylactic reaction, and provided further that no police office shall be liable in a civil suit for damages as a result of any acts or omissions in providing or obtaining, or attempting to provide or obtain, such assistance unless such acts or omissions constitute willful, wanton or reckless conduct.