http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/pressroom/pressrelease/pr030307.cfm911 Good Samaritan Bill Clears New Mexico House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee by 6-1 Margin
SB 200 Now Heads to the House Judiciary Committee
For Immediate Release: Saturday, March 3, 2007. Contact: Reena Szczepanski (505) 699-0798 or Tommy McDonald (505) 983-3277
A bill that would shield people who seek help for a friend of family member who is experiencing a drug overdose and call 911 cleared the House Consumer and Public Affairs committee today. The bill now moves to the House Judiciary committee.
SB 200, the 911 Good Samaritan bill, addresses the overwhelming rates of drug-related overdoses in New Mexico by encouraging people to call 911 in the event of an overdose. The bill provides limited immunity from drug possession charges when a witness or victim of a drug-related overdose calls emergency services for help. The bill passed in the Senate by a 29-6 margin last month.
“This is a bill that is designed to save lives,” said Reena Szczepanski, director of the Drug Policy Alliance New Mexico. “The majority of drug-related overdoses are preventable. And since New Mexico has the highest rate of overdoses in the nation, anything we can do to help save lives is a step in the right direction.
For the latest on SB 200, the 911 Good Samaritan bill, please contact Reena Szczepanski at 699-0798 or Tommy McDonald at 983-3277.
Read the Bill Below Called the "911 Good Samaritan" bill
****************************************************SENATE BILL 200
48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007
INTRODUCED BY
Richard C. Martinez
AN ACT
RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES; PROVIDING LIMITED IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION FOR A PERSON WHO SEEKS OR OBTAINS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR A DRUG-RELATED OVERDOSE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. A new section of the Controlled Substances Act is enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] OVERDOSE PREVENTION--LIMITED IMMUNITY.--
A. A person who, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug-related overdose shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance pursuant to the provisions of Section 30-31-23 NMSA 1978 if the evidence for the charge of possession of a controlled substance was gained as a result of the seeking of medical assistance.
B. A person who experiences a drug-related overdose and is in need of medical assistance shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance pursuant to the provisions of Section 30-31-23 NMSA 1978 if the evidence for the charge of possession of a controlled substance was gained as a result of the overdose and the need for medical assistance.
C. The act of seeking medical assistance for someone who is experiencing a drug-related overdose may be used as a mitigating factor in a criminal prosecution pursuant to the Controlled Substances Act."
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http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0200.html
