84R11404 JSC-D
 
  By: Guillen H.B. No. 225
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 225:
 
  By:  Herrero C.S.H.B. No. 225
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the prescription, administration, and possession of
  certain opioid antagonists for the treatment of a suspected
  overdose and a defense to prosecution for certain offenses
  involving controlled substances and other prohibited drugs,
  substances, or paraphernalia for defendants seeking assistance for
  a suspected overdose.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 481.115, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
         (g)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense punishable
  under Subsection (b) that the actor:
               (1)  requested emergency medical assistance in
  response to the possible overdose of the actor or another person;
               (2)  was the first person to make a request for medical
  assistance under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  if the actor requested emergency medical
  assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person:
                     (A)  remained on the scene until the medical
  assistance arrived; and
                     (B)  cooperated with medical assistance and law
  enforcement personnel.
         SECTION 2.  Section 481.1151, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense punishable
  under Subsection (b)(1) that the actor:
               (1)  requested emergency medical assistance in
  response to the possible overdose of the actor or another person;
               (2)  was the first person to make a request for medical
  assistance under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  if the actor requested emergency medical
  assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person:
                     (A)  remained on the scene until the medical
  assistance arrived; and
                     (B)  cooperated with medical assistance and law
  enforcement personnel.
         SECTION 3.  Section 481.116, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (f)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense punishable
  under Subsection (b) that the actor:
               (1)  requested emergency medical assistance in
  response to the possible overdose of the actor or another person;
               (2)  was the first person to make a request for medical
  assistance under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  if the actor requested emergency medical
  assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person:
                     (A)  remained on the scene until the medical
  assistance arrived; and
                     (B)  cooperated with medical assistance and law
  enforcement personnel.
         SECTION 4.  Section 481.1161, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense punishable
  under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) that the actor:
               (1)  requested emergency medical assistance in
  response to the possible overdose of the actor or another person;
               (2)  was the first person to make a request for medical
  assistance under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  if the actor requested emergency medical
  assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person:
                     (A)  remained on the scene until the medical
  assistance arrived; and
                     (B)  cooperated with medical assistance and law
  enforcement personnel.
         SECTION 5.  Section 481.117, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (f)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense punishable
  under Subsection (b) that the actor:
               (1)  requested emergency medical assistance in
  response to the possible overdose of the actor or another person;
               (2)  was the first person to make a request for medical
  assistance under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  if the actor requested emergency medical
  assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person:
                     (A)  remained on the scene until the medical
  assistance arrived; and
                     (B)  cooperated with medical assistance and law
  enforcement personnel.
         SECTION 6.  Section 481.118, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (f)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense punishable
  under Subsection (b) that the actor:
               (1)  requested emergency medical assistance in
  response to the possible overdose of the actor or another person;
               (2)  was the first person to make a request for medical
  assistance under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  if the actor requested emergency medical
  assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person:
                     (A)  remained on the scene until the medical
  assistance arrived; and
                     (B)  cooperated with medical assistance and law
  enforcement personnel.
         SECTION 7.  Section 481.119, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense under
  Subsection (b) that the actor:
               (1)  requested emergency medical assistance in
  response to the possible overdose of the actor or another person;
               (2)  was the first person to make a request for medical
  assistance under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  if the actor requested emergency medical
  assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person:
                     (A)  remained on the scene until the medical
  assistance arrived; and
                     (B)  cooperated with medical assistance and law
  enforcement personnel.
         SECTION 8.  Section 481.121, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense punishable
  under Subsection (b)(1) or (2) that the actor:
               (1)  requested emergency medical assistance in
  response to the possible overdose of the actor or another person;
               (2)  was the first person to make a request for medical
  assistance under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  if the actor requested emergency medical
  assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person:
                     (A)  remained on the scene until the medical
  assistance arrived; and
                     (B)  cooperated with medical assistance and law
  enforcement personnel.
         SECTION 9.  Section 481.125, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
         (g)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense under
  Subsection (a) that the actor:
               (1)  requested emergency medical assistance in
  response to the possible overdose of the actor or another person;
               (2)  was the first person to make a request for medical
  assistance under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  if the actor requested emergency medical
  assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person:
                     (A)  remained on the scene until the medical
  assistance arrived; and
                     (B)  cooperated with medical assistance and law
  enforcement personnel.
         SECTION 10.  Section 483.041, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense under
  Subsection (a) that the actor:
               (1)  requested emergency medical assistance in
  response to the possible overdose of the actor or another person;
               (2)  was the first person to make a request for medical
  assistance under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  if the actor requested emergency medical
  assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person:
                     (A)  remained on the scene until the medical
  assistance arrived; and
                     (B)  cooperated with medical assistance and law
  enforcement personnel.
         SECTION 11.  Section 485.031, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  It is a defense to prosecution for an offense under
  Subsection (a) that the actor:
               (1)  requested emergency medical assistance in
  response to the possible overdose of the actor or another person;
               (2)  was the first person to make a request for medical
  assistance under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  if the actor requested emergency medical
  assistance in response to the possible overdose of another person:
                     (A)  remained on the scene until the medical
  assistance arrived; and
                     (B)  cooperated with medical assistance and law
  enforcement personnel.
         SECTION 12.  Chapter 483, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter E to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER E. OPIOID ANTAGONISTS
         Sec. 483.101.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Emergency services personnel" includes
  firefighters, police officers and other peace officers, emergency
  medical services personnel as defined by Section 773.003, emergency
  room personnel, and other individuals who, in the course and scope
  of employment or as a volunteer, provide services for the benefit of
  the general public during emergency situations.
               (2)  "Health care professional" means a person
  authorized by law to prescribe an opioid antagonist.
               (3)  "Opioid antagonist" means any drug that binds to
  opioid receptors and blocks or disinhibits the effects of opioids
  acting on those receptors.
               (4)  "Opioid-related drug overdose" means a condition,
  evidenced by symptoms such as extreme physical illness, decreased
  level of consciousness, respiratory depression, or coma, that a
  layperson would reasonably believe to be the result of the
  consumption or use of an opioid.
         Sec. 483.102.  PRESCRIPTION OF OPIOID ANTAGONIST; STANDING
  ORDER. (a) A health care professional may, directly or by standing
  order, prescribe, dispense, or distribute an opioid antagonist to:
               (1)  a person at risk of experiencing an opioid-related
  drug overdose; or
               (2)  a family member, friend, or other person in a
  position to assist a person described by Subdivision (1).
         (b)  A prescription issued under this section is considered
  as issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of
  professional practice.
         (c)  A health care professional who, acting with reasonable
  care, prescribes or dispenses an opioid antagonist is not subject
  to any criminal or civil liability or any professional disciplinary
  action for:
               (1)  prescribing or dispensing the opioid antagonist;
  or
               (2)  any outcome resulting from the eventual
  administration of the opioid antagonist.
         Sec. 483.103.  DISTRIBUTION OF OPIOID ANTAGONIST; STANDING
  ORDER. A person or organization acting under a standing order
  issued by a health care professional may store an opioid antagonist
  and may dispense an opioid antagonist, provided the person or
  organization does not request or receive compensation for storage
  or dispensation.
         Sec. 483.104.  POSSESSION OF OPIOID ANTAGONIST. Any person
  may possess an opioid antagonist, regardless of whether the person
  holds a prescription for the opioid antagonist.
         Sec. 483.105.  DUTY OF PHARMACISTS. A pharmacist that
  provides an opioid antagonist to a person shall offer counseling to
  the person about:
               (1)  overdose recognition and prevention; and
               (2)  the administration of opioid antagonists, patient
  responses, and potential side effects.
         Sec. 483.106.  ADMINISTRATION OF OPIOID ANTAGONIST. (a)  A
  person who, acting with reasonable care, administers an opioid
  antagonist to another person whom the person believes is suffering
  an opioid-related drug overdose is not subject to criminal
  prosecution, sanction under any professional licensing statute, or
  civil liability, for an act or omission resulting from the
  administration of the opioid antagonist.
         (b)  Emergency services personnel are authorized to
  administer an opioid antagonist to a person who appears to be
  suffering an opioid-related drug overdose, as clinically
  indicated.
         Sec. 483.107.  OPIOID ANTAGONIST TRAINING. A person, state
  agency, or political subdivision of the state that provides opioid
  antagonists to emergency services personnel for use in the regular
  course of providing emergency services shall provide those
  personnel with a course of instruction about:
               (1)  overdose recognition and prevention; and
               (2)  the administration of opioid antagonists, patient
  responses, and potential side effects.
         Sec. 483.108.  GRANTS. The Health and Human Services
  Commission and the criminal justice division of the governor's
  office may issue grants for:
               (1)  drug overdose prevention;
               (2)  recognition and response education for
  individuals, family members, and emergency services personnel; and
               (3)  opioid antagonist prescription or distribution
  projects.
         Sec. 483.109.  CONFLICT OF LAW. To the extent of a conflict
  between this subchapter and another law, this subchapter controls.
         SECTION 13.  (a) The change in law made by this Act relating
  to conduct that is grounds for imposition of a disciplinary
  sanction applies only to conduct that occurs on or after September
  1, 2015.
         (b)  Conduct that occurs before September 1, 2015, is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and
  the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 14.  (a) The change in law made by this Act relating
  to conduct that is the basis for civil liability applies only to
  conduct that occurs on or after September 1, 2015.
         (b)  Conduct that occurs before September 1, 2015, is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and
  the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 15.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act relating
  to conduct that constitutes a criminal offense applies only to an
  offense committed on or after September 1, 2015.
         (b)  For purposes of this section, an offense is committed
  before September 1, 2015, if any element of the offense occurs
  before that date.
         (c)  An offense committed before September 1, 2015, is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 16.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.