2025 -- S 0464 SUBSTITUTE A

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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 resident assistant as

designated by the institution. 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 resident assistant 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 resident assistant as designated by the institution,

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 any

person authorized by the college or university to administer an opioid antagonist 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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