Amendment #745 to H4000

Opioid Antagonist Distribution for Directly Released Incarcerated Individuals

Representatives Donaghue of Westborough and Vargas of Haverhill move to amend the bill by adding the following new section :-

SECTION XX: Chapter 126 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 41. (a) For the purposes of section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Department”, the department of correction established by section 1 of chapter 27.

“Opioid antagonist”, naloxone or any other drug approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration as a competitive narcotic antagonist used in the reversal of overdoses caused by opioids.

“Pharmacist”, any pharmacist registered in the commonwealth to dispense controlled substances, and including any other person authorized to dispense controlled substances under the supervision of a pharmacist registered in the commonwealth.

(b) Any correctional facility, county correctional facility, state prison, jail or house of correction in the commonwealth shall have a department approved pharmacist or designee distribute 2 doses of opioid antagonists to an incarcerated individual when they are directly released from a correctional facility, county correctional facility, state prison, jail or house of correction.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #745 to H4000

Opioid Antagonist Distribution for Directly Released Incarcerated Individuals