Bill > SB556

This bill requires public institutions of higher education in Texas to develop and implement comprehensive policies for the availability and administration of opioid antagonists (medications like naloxone that can rapidly reverse opioid overdoses) in campus residence halls. The bill mandates that each institution offering on-campus housing must create a policy ensuring opioid antagonists are available in residence halls, with specific provisions for acquiring, storing, and administering these medications. Resident advisors must be trained to recognize overdose signs and properly use opioid antagonists, with annual training sessions covering topics like overdose symptoms, emergency procedures, and proper medication disposal. The bill allows physicians to prescribe opioid antagonists directly to institutions without patient-specific requirements and provides broad legal immunity for individuals who administer or assist with opioid antagonists in good faith. Institutions must report certain information after each administration of an opioid antagonist to the prescribing physician and include the policy in student handbooks and on their websites. Importantly, the bill also protects students who report or seek emergency medical assistance for an overdose from disciplinary action, even if they might have violated the institution's code of conduct. Institutions must implement these policies no later than the fall semester of 2026.

Education

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB556