ASSEMBLY, No. 4381

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  YVONNE LOPEZ

District 19 (Middlesex)

Assemblywoman  JOANN DOWNEY

District 11 (Monmouth)

Assemblyman  ERIC HOUGHTALING

District 11 (Monmouth)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle, Assemblymen Verrelli, DeAngelo, Benson, Karabinchak and Assemblywoman Timberlake

SYNOPSIS

     Requires public high school students to receive instruction concerning opioid abuse and opioid abuse prevention.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

An Act concerning instructional programs in public schools on opioid abuse and supplementing P.L.1987, c.389 (C.18A:40A-1 et seq.).

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

     1.    a.  The instructional programs required under section 1 of P.L.1987, c.389 (C.18A:40A-1) shall include for students in grades nine through 12, instruction concerning the use and misuse of opioid drugs, the dangers of opioid abuse, the connection between prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs such as heroin, and opioid abuse prevention.  The instruction also shall include information on providing appropriate assistance to an overdose victim, including recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose and the importance of calling 911 for assistance.

     b. (1)  A school district may, in its discretion, establish a program for students in grade 12 that provides training in how to administer an opioid antidote, such as naloxone hydrochloride, to an overdose victim in an emergency.

     (2)  A student shall be excused from a training program established under paragraph (1) of this subsection upon the written request of the student’s parent or guardian.  No penalties shall result from a student’s non-participation in the program.

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

     Current law, P.L.1987, c.389 (C.18A:40A-1 et seq.), requires public schools to provide age-appropriate instructional programs on drugs, alcohol, anabolic steroids, tobacco, and controlled dangerous substances in each grade from kindergarten through 12.  This bill would require that the instructional programs for grades nine through 12 include instruction concerning the use and misuse of opioid drugs, the dangers of opioid abuse, the connection between prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs such as heroin, and opioid abuse prevention.  Under the bill, the instruction will also include information on providing appropriate assistance to an overdose victim, including recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose and the importance of calling 911 for assistance.

     In addition, the bill permits school districts to establish a program for students in grade 12 that provides training in how to administer an opioid antidote, such as naloxone hydrochloride, to an overdose victim in an emergency.  The bill provides that a student
will be excused from participation in the training program upon the written request of the student’s parent or guardian, and no penalties will result from a student’s non-participation.