HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 165        FILED ON: 1/8/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2016

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

RoseLee Vincent

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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 requiring first responders to wear protective gear when responding to overdoses.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 165        FILED ON: 1/8/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2016

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4220 OF 2017-2018.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act requiring first responders to wear protective gear when responding to overdoses.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 111C of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 26. For the purposes of this section, “first responder” shall mean any police officer, firefighter, EMS first responder as defined by section 1, or correction officer.

A first responder responding to the scene of an overdose shall wear personal protective equipment including gloves, a mask and safety glasses. Any entity employing first responders shall make available sufficient personal protective equipment for use by any first responder of that entity when responding to the scene of an overdose.  The department shall work with such entities to develop appropriate standards for the personal protective equipment required pursuant to this section. 

SECTION 2. The department of public health shall promulgate regulations as necessary to carry out this act.