Campaign to strengthen Good Samaritan law wins fight in Maine Senate

In an impassioned speech from the Senate ground on Friday, Sen. Chloe Maxmin (D-Lincoln) rose to persuade her colleagues to vote for a model of a invoice backed by hurt discount advocates that might strengthen Maine’s “Good Samaritan” legislation by offering larger safety to individuals who reply to an overdose.

Senators listened, in the end voting in favor of the stronger model of the measure supported by Maxmin and advocates and opposing a weaker model of the identical invoice backed by the administration of Gov. Janet Mills. The vote in assist of the extra substantive invoice was 22-12, with some Republicans becoming a member of Democrats in supporting Maxmin’s laws. 

“All through the method engaged on this invoice, we tried to barter in good religion with the Chief Government Officer,” mentioned Maxmin, referring to Mills. “There was no willingness to hunt a compromise on their half. What’s earlier than us at this time is the modification put forth by the chief department. Whereas somebody on the skin of the problems might imagine that this modification would assist the state of affairs, it doesn’t. Some individuals say this modification is best than nothing. That positively isn’t true.”

“[The governor’s amendment] doesn’t prolong protections for felony offenses,” she added. “So the confusion round what individuals are shielded from continues to exist. Due to this fact, it does nothing to repair the precise downside that created this invoice within the first place, which is that individuals are not calling 911 as a result of they don’t really feel protected.”

A number of Senate Democrats and Republicans rose to voice assist for Maxmin’s authentic model of LD 1862, which seeks to handle weaknesses recognized by Maine’s restoration group in a “Good Samaritan” legislation handed in 2019 that they are saying nonetheless leaves many individuals on the scene of an overdose too scared to name 911 for worry of arrest.

Democratic Sen. Heather Sanborn of Portland referenced the Bible parable concerning the Good Samaritan in her assist for Maxmin’s authentic model of the invoice.

“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. mentioned concerning the parable, ‘On the one hand, we’re referred to as to play the Good Samaritan on life’s roadside however that can solely be an preliminary act. Sooner or later we should come to see that the entire Jericho Street should be remodeled, in order that women and men won’t be continuously robbed as they make their journey on life’s freeway,’” she mentioned.

“We can not assist damaged individuals repair their lives when they’re useless,” added Republican Sen. Rick Bennett of Oxford, stating that he can be voting in opposition to Mills’ model of the invoice.

The ground speeches had been sufficient to tip the stability away from the governor’s most popular modification of LD 1862.

Maxmin’s authentic model of the invoice, supported by the Senate, would change the prevailing legislation in order that any particular person on the scene of an overdose who makes religion effort to name for help is protected against arrest or prosecution. The invoice would come with immunity for bail and probation violations, whereas exempting intercourse crimes, crimes involving kids, and arson, amongst different crimes. 

The Mills administration opposed Maxmin’s invoice when it was being vetted by the legislature’s Prison Justice and Public Security Committee and provided their very own amended model. The administration’s proposal, which was endorsed by the committee, retains the present legislation however would broaden protections to solely these “rendering support.” However advocates say that the obscure definition in Mills’ invoice of these rendering support, coupled with not increasing immunity for sure felony expenses, will do little to save lots of lives.

Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (D-Aroostook) and Democratic Sens. Susan Deschambault, Mark Lawrence and Eloise Vitelli voted for the governor’s model of the invoice and had been joined by eight Republicans. 

“It goes too far,” Deschambault mentioned of Maxmin’s model.

Dozens of hurt discount advocates had been in attendance within the Senate chambers through the vote. After the shock vote in favor of the stronger modification on the invoice, a number of advocates met within the hallway with Maxmin to hug and cry. 

They expressed pleasure that the Senate backed Maxmin’s model, saying it’s desperately wanted as a file variety of individuals misplaced their lives in 2021 as a result of overdose disaster. That quantity reached 636 deaths final yr; twelve per week, or practically two individuals a day.

“We did rather a lot higher than I assumed we might at this time,” mentioned Mikki Rice, a hurt discount advocate and particular person in restoration, as she wiped away tears. “I misplaced a pal three years in the past as a result of no one referred to as for assist.”

Courtney Allen of the Maine Restoration Advocacy Mission added, “I’m so pleased with our Senate at this time for listening to the voices of the individuals instantly impacted. We went into this vote unsure about the way it was going to work out. It is a large tent subject and we’re all impacted and all of us must create options collectively.”

The invoice will subsequent transfer to the Maine Home for a vote earlier than doubtlessly going to Mills.

Prime photograph: Hurt discount advocates, together with Maxmin (far proper) and Courtney Allen (far left) on the State Home on Friday | Beacon