BILL ANALYSIS AB 2145 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 28, 2010 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair AB 2145 (Ammiano) - As Introduced: February 18, 2010 Policy Committee: JudiciaryVote:9-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill provides authority to specified licensed health care providers and trained laypeople statewide to prescribe and administer naloxone, a medication used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose, without risk of civil or criminal penalty. Specifically, this bill 1)Expands authority established by SB 767, Chapter 477, in 2007 in seven counties and makes the provisions permanent. 2)Expands SB 767 provisions from licensed health care professionals to trained lay people. 3)Requires the California Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to publish an annual report on drug overdose trends and death rates. FISCAL EFFECT 1)One-time GF costs of $200,000 to $300,000 to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DADP) to publish an initial annual report about drug overdose information statewide, including measurement of trends in death rates, emergency service use, and other interventions that may be successful at reducing morbidity and mortality in this area. On-going GF costs in the range of $50,000 to $100,000. 2)Unknown, potentially significant savings to the extent this bill reduces statewide medical costs associated with drug overdose deaths and treatment costs. COMMENTS AB 2145 Page 2 1)Rationale . This bill is co-sponsored by the Harm Reduction Coalition and the Los Angeles Overdose Prevention Task Force. The civil and criminal immunity created by this bill addresses provider concerns about being held liable for the prescription or administration of overdose medication. Under current law, some providers and trained lay people are hesitant to prescribe naloxone due to concern risk of civil or criminal penalties. 2)Background . Since 2007, Alameda, Fresno, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Mendocino, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz counties have had SB 767 pilot programs that have collectively prevented hundreds of drug overdose deaths. Other states including New York, New Mexico and Connecticut have enacted state laws creating similar provider immunity as established in this bill. The DADP reporting requirements increase the availability of information about drug overdoses and prevention efforts statewide. 3)A Drug Overdose creates a depression of the central nervous system, compromises breathing, and is a leading cause of accidental death. According to the sponsors of this bill there are approximately 3,000 drug overdose deaths each year in California. Common sources of overdoses are opiates, which include heroin, morphine, and methadone. The medication naloxone, an opioid antagonist, is administered to counteract a depression of the nervous system and to return breathing to normal. Naloxone blocks receptors in the brain to prevent the action of opioids. 4)Related Legislation . SB 1695 (Escutia), Chapter 678, Statutes of 2002, authorizes counties to develop a program to certify emergency medical technicians to administer naloxone. Analysis Prepared by : Mary Ader / APPR. / (916) 319-2081