Bill > SB947

This bill amends the Texas Health and Safety Code to provide a defense to prosecution for certain offenses involving possession of controlled substances, marijuana, dangerous drugs, abusable volatile chemicals, or drug paraphernalia. The defense applies if the person was the first to request emergency medical assistance during an ongoing medical emergency in response to a suspected overdose, remained on the scene until assistance arrived, and cooperated with medical and law enforcement personnel. The defense is also available to the person who was the victim of the suspected overdose. However, the defense is not available if a peace officer was already in the process of arresting the person or executing a search warrant at the time of the request for assistance. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2021.