The bill amends the Harm Reduction Act to establish an Overdose Prevention Program alongside the existing Harm Reduction Program, aimed at reducing overdose mortality and other negative health outcomes associated with drug use. Key provisions include the requirement for the Department of Health to create and administer the Overdose Prevention Program by January 1, 2027, and to promulgate rules for its establishment by July 1, 2026. The bill also expands the definition of "participant" to include individuals receiving services from both programs and mandates the department to compile data for evaluating the effectiveness of these initiatives.

Additionally, the bill introduces significant protections for individuals involved in the harm reduction and overdose prevention programs by limiting civil and criminal liability for those acting in good faith under the provisions of the Act. This includes immunity from prosecution under the Controlled Substances Act and protection from disciplinary actions by professional licensing boards, among other safeguards. The legislation aims to create a supportive environment for individuals seeking help while addressing the public health crisis of drug overdoses.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 24-2C-1, 24-2C-3, 24-2C-4, 24-2C-5