ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 4866
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: JANUARY 17, 2019
The Assembly Higher Education Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4866.
This bill requires public and independent institutions of higher education in New Jersey to obtain a supply of opioid antidotes to be maintained in one or more secure and easily accessible locations at the institution. The bill requires the institutions to develop a policy for the emergency administration of an opioid antidote to a student, staff member, or other person who is experiencing an opioid overdose. The policies must: (1) designate a licensed campus medical professional to oversee the institution’s program for the maintenance and emergency administration of opioid antidotes; (2) permit a licensed campus medical professional and other designated trained employees of the institution to administer an opioid antidote to any person whom the licensed campus medical professional or trained employee in good faith believes is experiencing an opioid overdose; and (3) require the transportation of an overdose victim to a hospital emergency room by emergency services personnel after the administration of an opioid antidote.
Under an institution’s policy, a licensed campus medical professional will have the primary responsibility for the emergency administration of an opioid antidote. The governing board of an institution of higher education will designate additional employees of the institution who volunteer to administer an opioid antidote in the event that a person experiences an opioid overdose when a licensed campus medical professional is not physically present at the scene. The licensed campus medical professionals and designated employees are required to receive training on standardized protocols for the administration of an opioid antidote to a person who experiences an opioid overdose. The training will include the overdose prevention information described in subsection a. of section 5 of the "Overdose Prevention Act," P.L.2013, c.46 (C.24:6J-5).
The bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Human Services and appropriate medical experts, to establish guidelines for institutions of higher education in developing their policies for the administration of opioid antidotes, including guidelines concerning the training requirements for licensed campus medical professionals and designated employees. Institutions of higher education will be required to implement the guidelines in developing their policies. The bill provides immunity from liability for licensed campus medical professionals, trained designees, and other employees or agents of an institution of higher education, and for pharmacists and prescribers of opioid antidotes for an institution of higher education, for good faith acts or omissions consistent with the bill’s provisions.
In addition, the bill amends the “Overdose Prevention Act,” P.L.2013, c.46 (C.24:6J-1 et seq.), to: (1) include institutions of higher education and licensed campus medical professionals among the recipients that may be prescribed opioid antidotes through a standing order; and (2) provide that immunity from liability for opioid antidote administration in accordance with the Overdose Prevention Act will be applicable to institutions of higher education, licensed campus medical professionals, and other employees or agents of an institution of higher education who administer, or permit the administration of, opioid antidotes in good faith under the provisions of the bill.