The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Raatz’s SB 499 on narcotic drugs and naloxone. The bill provides that a trier of fact may conclude that a person possessed a schedule I or II narcotic drug if: (1) the person suffered symptoms of an acute opioid overdose; and (2) administration of an overdose intervention drug alleviated the symptoms within 15 minutes. The bill also specifies that certain persons: (1) charged with or convicted of a drug offense; and (2) who received an overdose intervention drug for an acute opioid overdose; are entitled to priority admission in a forensic diversion program, a pretrial diversion program, or another program, including a drug court program, offering treatment for persons with addictive disorders.
An amendment was offered to address addiction before an arrest occurs to divert these individuals from the criminal justice system to hospitalization through involuntary commitment. Testimony was heard from representatives of the public, law enforcement, Judge David Happe, Madison Circuit Court, the medical community, Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition, and the Office of the Attorney General. The bill was held for further discussion and revision until next week.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/senate/499.