STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 5059

with Assembly Floor Amendments

(Proposed by Assemblyman VERRELLI)

ADOPTED: DECEMBER 16, 2019

      These floor amendments permit, instead of require, the Local Advisory Committee on Alcohol Use Disorder and Substance Use Disorder in each county to establish a local drug overdose fatality review team for that county.  The amendments remove the provisions of the bill requiring a deceased individual’s next of kin or authorized representative to consent to the release of certain information and records.

      Further, the amendments:  1) remove the bill’s funding provision, 2) provide that certain criminal records are not to be transmitted if the transmission of such records would imperil ongoing investigations, 3) provide that information discussed at local drug overdose fatality review team meetings is to be confidential, 4) remove the provision of the bill which requires the chair of a local drug overdose fatality review team to administer a process of review and enact and implement a standard protocol for the collection and maintenance of data that is to be consistent with all teams, 5) change the definition of drug overdose, and 6) direct State and local government agencies to share, upon the request of the Department of Law and Public Safety, information or records as may be necessary and appropriate for the department to integrate into its integrated drug awareness dashboard in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.