Friends,
At the Capitol, there are few days when you can cast a vote for a bill that you know will save lives. Today was one of those days.
The House passed “Steve’s Law,” a bill that will allow first responders, law enforcement and other individuals to carry and administer an antidote to heroin and other opiates such as oxycodone. The bill passed by a vote of 130-0.
Steve is Steve Rummler, who became addicted to prescription drugs after a back injury. He died in 2011 of a drug overdose. His family turned that tragedy into a mission to stop such senseless deaths. We worked together on this bill – the 911 Good Samaritan and Naloxone bill.
The measure increases the availability of the heroin antidote Naloxone. It also provides incentive to call for help. As we did last year in the case of an alcohol overdose, we're providing some immunity from prosecution for the victim and the person who calls for help.
We’re losing too many of our friends and neighbors because they lost the fight against drugs. This bill will help save lives. And I was proud to be its author.
Dan