ASSEMBLY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 5445

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  JUNE 6, 2019

 

      The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5445.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 5445 requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, to establish a program to detect fentanyl in the State’s illegal drug supply and make information related to the presence of fentanyl available in a database that is accessible by law enforcement.

     The bill requires the Attorney General to establish a program for testing all controlled dangerous substances seized by law enforcement officers in the State for the presence of fentanyl.  Any available information related to the presence and content of fentanyl in the substances tested is to be reported to the Attorney General in a timely manner.  The testing is to be performed using the most current drug testing techniques available including, but not limited to, fentanyl testing strips, to evaluate the presence of fentanyl in a substance.

     The information received as a result of the testing is to be compiled into a database that is accessible by all law enforcement agencies throughout the State.  The information is required to continuously be updated to reflect the most current information available concerning the presence of fentanyl in illegal substances in the State.