Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SADAF F. JAFFER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblyman STERLEY S. STANLEY
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires public school students in grades nine through 12 to receive instruction regarding legal immunity provided to individuals seeking medical assistance for others in certain situations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning public school instruction on legal immunity provided to individuals seeking medical assistance for others and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Beginning with the first full school year following the date of enactment of this act, each school district shall incorporate instruction regarding legal protections and immunity under State law provided to individuals who seek medical assistance for others experiencing drug overdoses or for others who require medical assistance due to alcohol consumption or the consumption of marijuana, hashish, or a cannabis item as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education for students in grades nine through 12. The instruction shall incorporate age-appropriate overviews of relevant State laws including, but not limited to, the “Overdose Prevention Act,” P.L.2013, c.46 (C.24:6J-1 et al.), and subsection f. of section 1 of P.L.1979, c.264 (C.2C:33-15). The instruction shall educate students on the legal protections and immunity provided under State law to persons who: (1) seek medical assistance for an individual experiencing a drug overdose; or (2) call 9-1-1 for an individual who is in need of medical assistance due to alcohol consumption or the consumption of marijuana, hashish, or a cannabis item. The instruction shall encourage students to, in good faith, seek medical assistance or call 9-1-1, as appropriate.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires public schools to provide to students in grades nine through 12 instruction regarding legal protections and immunity under State law provided to individuals who seek medical assistance for others experiencing drug overdoses or for others who require medical assistance due to alcohol consumption or the consumption of marijuana, hashish, or a cannabis item. A school district would provide this instruction as part of its implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
The laws identified under the bill include the “Overdose Prevention Act,” which provides that those who, in good faith, seek medical assistance for a drug overdose victim will be immune from arrest and prosecution on a charge of use or simple possession of illegal drugs. The immunity provided under this law also applies to the person suffering the overdose. The bill also identifies a separate provision of State law that grants immunity to an underage person who unlawfully consumes or possesses alcoholic beverages, marijuana, hashish, or a cannabis item, if they call for medical assistance for another underage person who has consumed those items. This law also provides immunity to an underage person who receives such medical assistance.