Bill > S602

Introduced Session

This bill would amend the State's "Overdose Prevention Act" (OPA), P.L.2013, c.46 (C.24:6J-1 et seq.), in order to authorize school nurses to administer opioid antidotes, with immunity, to overdose victims who are located on school property, or are engaged in school-sponsored activities. The bill would authorize a health care practitioner to prescribe or dispense opioid antidotes, through a standing order, to a school nurse, or to a school that employs a school nurse, who is deemed by the health care practitioner to be capable of administering the antidotes to overdose victims in an emergency. A school nurse acting pursuant to a standing order would be authorized, in an emergency situation, to administer an opioid antidote, without fee, to any person on school property, or to any person engaged in a school-sponsored activity, if the nurse believes, in good faith, that the person is experiencing an opioid overdose. Consistent with the OPA's existing immunity provisions, the bill would provide schools and school nurses with immunity from civil and criminal liability, and immunity from professional disciplinary action, in association with any act or omission, which is related to the administration of an opioid antidote, and which is undertaken, in good faith, in accordance with the provisions of the bill and the OPA. The bill would also make several technical amendments to the OPA to correct improper citations and terminological references, and improve clarity.

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Latham Tiver (R)*,  Patrick Diegnan (D), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document