S.B. No. 584
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to guidelines for prescribing opioid antagonists.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 170 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 170.  PRESCRIPTION OF OPIOID ANTAGONISTS
         Sec. 170.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter, "opioid
  antagonist" and "opioid-related drug overdose" have the meanings
  assigned by Section 483.101, Health and Safety Code.
         Sec. 170.002.  GUIDELINES. (a)  The board shall adopt
  guidelines for the prescription of opioid antagonists.
         (b)  The guidelines must address:
               (1)  prescribing an opioid antagonist to a patient to
  whom an opioid medication is also prescribed; and
               (2)  identifying patients at risk of an opioid-related
  drug overdose and prescribing an opioid antagonist to that patient
  or to a person in a position to administer the opioid antagonist to
  that patient.
         (c)  In adopting guidelines under this section, the board:
               (1)  shall consult with the Texas State Board of
  Pharmacy;
               (2)  shall consult materials published by the Substance
  Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the United
  States Department of Health and Human Services; and
               (3)  may consult other appropriate materials,
  including medical journals subject to peer review and publications
  by medical professional associations.
         Sec. 170.003.  LIABILITY FOR ACT OR OMISSION WITH RESPECT TO
  PRESCRIBING AN OPIOID ANTAGONIST. A physician who acts in good
  faith and with reasonable care, regardless of whether the physician
  follows the guidelines adopted under this chapter, is not subject
  to criminal or civil liability or any professional disciplinary
  action for:
               (1)  prescribing or failing to prescribe an opioid
  antagonist; or
               (2)  any outcome resulting from the eventual
  administration of an opioid antagonist prescribed by the physician.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2017.
  Conduct that occurs before September 1, 2017, 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 3.  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, 2017. Conduct that
  occurs before September 1, 2017, 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 4.  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, 2017. For purposes of
  this section, an offense is committed before September 1, 2017, if
  any element of the offense occurs before that date. An offense
  committed before September 1, 2017, 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 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 584 passed the Senate on
  April 19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 584 passed the House on
  May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, one
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor