An Act To Address Preventable Deaths from Drug Overdose
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1686
Committee Amendment CA_B_H712 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ]" to H.P. 1209, L.D. 1686, Bill, "An Act To 
Address Preventable Deaths from Drug Overdose" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the emergency 
clause and inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day 
period because the number of drug overdoses and ensuing deaths is on the rise; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA c. 556-A is enacted to read: 
§2353. Opioid antagonists 
CHAPTER 556-A 
OPIOIDS 
1. Definition. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, "opioid 
antagonist" means a drug that binds to opioid receptors and blocks or inhibits the effects 
of opioids acting on those receptors, including, but not limited to, naloxone 
hydrochloride. 
2. 
Authorized administration of an opioid antagonist by law enforcement 
officers and municipal firefighters. A law enforcement officer as defined in Title 17-A, 
section 2, subsection 17, in accordance with policies adopted by the law enforcement 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
\)~£, 
\\0 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT~" to H.P. 1209, L.D. 1686 
agency, and a municipal firefighter as defined in Title 3D-A, section 3151, subsection 2, 
in accordance with policies adopted by the municipality, may administer an intranasal 
opioid antagonist as clinically indicated. 
3. Authorized administration of an opioid antagonist by emergency medical 
personnel. 
An advanced emergency medical technician, basic emergency medical 
services person, basic emergency medical technician, first responder and emergency 
medical services' person as defined in Title 32, section 83, in accordance with policies 
applicable to the performance of their duties, may administer an opioid antagonist in 
accordance with the provisions of Title 32, chapter 2-B.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the minority report of the committee. This amendment clarifies 
language in the emergency preamble. This amendment retains the provision of the bill 
that defines "opioid antagonist." 
This amendment provides that emergency medical 
personnel may, in accordance with policies applicable to the performance of their duties, 
administer opioid antagonists in accordance with the provisions of the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 32, chapter 2-B. This amendment authorizes law enforcement officers in 
accordance with policies adopted by a law enforcement agency and municipal firefighters 
in accordance with policies adopted by a municipality to administer intranasal opioid 
antagonists. This amendment strikes provisions of the bill pertaining to grants for drug 
overdose education projects, an annual report on unintentional drug overdose fatalities in 
the State, immunity for prescribing, possessing and administering opioid antagonists, 
Medicaid coverage for opioid antagonists, phannacy licensure and collaborative practice. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT