Good Samaritan bill heads to governor’s desk

AUGUSTA, Maine — State lawmakers Monday have been in Augusta for the final day of the one hundred and thirtieth Legislature Second Common Session, with the purpose of wrapping up any last-minute enterprise.

One bill that went earlier than each chambers for a final time was LD 1862, An Act to Strengthen Maine’s Good Samaritan Law Concerning Drug-Related Medical Assistance.

When this invoice was launched initially of the session, it proposed anybody on the scene of an overdose could be protected against authorized penalty when police arrived on scene.

Gov. Janet Mills stated that was too broad. Her administration labored with bill advocates to re-work the bill.

“I am actually excited that everyone was capable of come to the desk and actually negotiate stable piece of laws,” Courtney Allen of the Maine Restoration Advocacy Venture stated. “Once I take a look at the governor’s modification that she first proposed and the modification that we first proposed, I am truly extra proud of the modification that we obtained to and into the center floor we actually got here collectively as a neighborhood.”

The amended bill now protects anybody on the scene of an overdose who helps. Whether or not that be calling 911, performing CPR or getting water. That safety contains parole and bail violations.

After the bill was amended, it handed within the Maine Home and Senate and has been despatched to Mills’ desk for a signature.

Allen added that this is step one in getting folks into restoration as a result of if somebody dies from an overdose they’ll by no means get an opportunity to get into restoration.