2025 -- S 0464

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LC000773

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE GOOD SAMARITAN OVERDOSE

PREVENTION ACT OF 2016

     Introduced By: Senators Murray, DiMario, Euer, Gallo, Felag, LaMountain, Mack,
Thompson, Acosta, Urso, and Valverde

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 21-28.9 of the General Laws entitled "The Good Samaritan Overdose

Prevention Act of 2016" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     21-28.9-6. Opioid overdose prevention in college/university housing.

     (a) Every college or university of higher education chartered in the State of Rhode Island

shall provide training in the administration of opioid antagonists to every staff member employed

in its student residential department, including resident assistants. Such colleges and universities

shall provide and maintain onsite, in each college/university-owned or college/university-operated

housing, opioid antagonists in quantities and types required by the department of health. Such

opioid antagonists shall be accessible by every staff member for use during emergencies to any

student, staff, or other individual on college/university-owned or college/university-operated

housing premises suspected of having an opioid-involved overdose, even if there exists a previous

history of opioid use.

     (b) Each college or university described in subsection (a) of this section may designate

additional employees who volunteer to administer opioid antagonists in the event a resident

assistant is not physically present at a suspected overdose incident; provided that, such employee

is trained in the administration of opioid antagonists by a program approved by the department of

health.

     (c) Any person or entity acting reasonably and in good faith in compliance with the

provisions of this section shall not, as the result of acts or omissions in providing services pursuant

to this section, be subject to administrative liability, civil liability or criminal prosecution unless

the acts or omissions constitute willful and wanton misconduct, nor shall they be subject to liability,

penalty, or disciplinary action based on college/university rules, regulations, or procedures.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE GOOD SAMARITAN OVERDOSE

PREVENTION ACT OF 2016

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     This act would mandate every college or university in Rhode Island to provide training in

the administration of opioid antagonists to every staff member employed in the college’s or

university's student residential department, including resident assistants, and would also authorize

those colleges and universities to include trained employee volunteers to act in accordance with

this act. This act would also provide that the college or university and all such staff members be

exempt from administrative liability, civil liability or criminal prosecution as a result of

administering opioid antagonists.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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