Bill > H258

This bill: 1. Adds several new opioids and opioid-like substances to the state's list of controlled substances, including various fentanyl derivatives, nitazene derivatives, and other synthetic opioids. This expands the scope of drugs covered under state law. 2. Significantly increases the fines for trafficking offenses involving heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil, raising the minimum fines from $50,000 to $500,000 for smaller amounts, $100,000 to $750,000 for larger amounts, and $500,000 to $1,000,000 for the largest amounts. This aims to deter the distribution of these highly potent and dangerous opioids. 3. Expands the "death by distribution" offense to cover situations where the unlawful delivery of certain controlled substances, even without malice, proximately causes the user's death. It also creates a new, more severe "death by distribution with malice" offense. These changes increase the potential punishments for drug dealers whose actions lead to overdose deaths. 4. Extends the state's "good Samaritan" immunity law to cover possession of any controlled substance, not just limited amounts of cocaine and heroin. This is intended to encourage people to seek medical help for overdoses without fear of prosecution for minor drug possession. 5. Establishes a task force to study ways to enhance law enforcement's ability to combat the illegal manufacturing, importation, and distribution of fentanyl, heroin, and similar drugs across the state. Overall, this bill aims to strengthen North Carolina's legal framework for addressing the ongoing opioid crisis by expanding the controlled substances schedule, increasing penalties for high-risk drug trafficking, expanding liability for overdose deaths, and encouraging reporting of overdoses.

Government Affairs, Health and Social Services, Justice

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2023/H258