Schools may give overdose medicine to students in emergencies

School nurses and selected school employees may keep and give prescription opioid overdose medicine to a student experiencing an overdose. The prescription medicine provision covers students experiencing an opioid-related overdose and school nurses or selected school employees. Staff who give prescription medicine must complete an approved training program and follow school policies. When no nurse is present, at least one selected employee must be on school grounds during regular school hours. Anyone in a school setting may give nonprescription overdose medicine to any person experiencing an overdose. The school provisions take effect July 1, 2026.

The law provides protections for people who prescribe, provide, or give opioid overdose medicine under the stated conditions. These provisions cover licensed health care professionals and other people who prescribe, provide, or give opioid overdose medicine. A licensed health care professional may prescribe or dispense the medicine to treat or prevent an overdose, or give it to treat or prevent an opioid-related overdose; the law provides protection from civil damages and criminal prosecution when they act under this section. Anyone may provide nonprescription medicine to treat or prevent an opioid-related overdose. A person who in good faith believes someone is overdosing may give it if acting with reasonable care; the law provides protection from civil claims and criminal prosecution, with the stated exception for health professionals acting in their ordinary work. These provisions take effect upon passage.

Each state-operated facility covered by the law must have an advisory board that includes at least two people with lived experience of a behavioral health disorder. This applies to state-operated facilities treating people with psychiatric disabilities or substance use disorders. The board advises the facility director, connects the facility with residents in its assigned area and the state, and reports on facility conditions and possible improvements. This provision does not apply to the Connecticut Valley Hospital Advisory Council or the Whiting Forensic Hospital oversight board. This provision takes effect upon passage.