WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2024 REGULAR SESSION
ENROLLED
Committee Substitute for House Bill 5540
BY DELEGATES STEPHENS, TONEY, SHEEDY, ELLINGTON,
BARNHART, HITE, WILLIS, ROHRBACH, DITTMAN, AND
LEWIS
[Passed March 1, 2024; in effect ninety days from passage.]
 Enr CS for HB 5540
1 AN ACT to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article,
2 designated §18-34-1, creating the Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Education Act;
3 requiring annual education of public school students in grades 6-12; setting forth methods
4 of instruction; and mandating start date of instruction.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
ARTICLE 34. LAKEN'S LAW
§18-34-1. Laken's Law.
1 (a) The Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Education Act or “Laken’s Law” would help
2 prevent overdose deaths in teens and young adults due to fentanyl and fentanyl components.
3 This shall be accomplished through education of students in grades 6-12 in all public schools and
4 be mandated annually using the following methods:
5 (1) Students will be taught about fentanyl, heroin, and opioids awareness, prevention, and
6 abuse;
7 (2) Students will be instructed in the life-saving use of FDA-approved opioid reversal
8 agents;
9 (3) Students will be instructed on the prevention of the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl;
10 (4) Students will be instructed on available state and community resources and
11 organizations that work to prevent and reduce youth substance use; and
12 (5) Students will receive health education covering the issues of substance abuse and
13 youth substance abuse in particular.
14 (b) This mandatory instruction will begin in the 2024-2025 school year.
1
Enr CS for HB 5540
The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
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Clerk of the House of Delegates
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Clerk of the Senate Originated in the House of Delegates.
In effect ninety days from passage.
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Speaker of the House of Delegates
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President of the Senate __________
The within is ................................................ this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2024.
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Governor
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Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-34-1
Committee Substitute: 18-34-1
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 18-34-1