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Legislators introduce new good samaritan bill
Bill to protect individuals from drug posession charges

By Jennifer Deleon / Heart of Hawaii

The media so far relatively has not given H.B.532 much attention, especially when compared to other bills such as proposed bans on text messaging, fireworks and pit bulls. And so far the bill does not have a popular name and remains a bill number in the Legislature. If it did have a name, it might be called the ‘Overdose Prevention Act”. It was introduced to the House on January 26 and to the Senate three days prior.

H.B 532 is a bill in the State Legislature of Hawaii that would, in effect, grant limited immunity to people who seek medical assistance for drug overdose victims. The bill does not specify what drugs are included, though it does make note to “controlled substances” which are already defined in current law.

If passed, the act will protect someone who seeks medical assistance for an apparent overdose victim from being charged with possession of drugs, unless the person seeking medical assistance is the one who sold the drugs to the victim.

As cited in the bill, similar medical amnesty also known as Good Samaritan policies have been adopted by more than a hundred colleges and universities around the country. The only state with a statewide medical amnesty law regarding controlled substances is New Mexico.  Several other states have similar bills going through legislation.

The controversy that arises with this bill is the suggestion that it is a “get out of jail free card” or pardon for drug users. Legislators of the affirmative argue that the bill’s purpose is to ease hesitation of individuals’ fear of legal recourse in emergency situations so that they can make life-saving decisions.

If passed, the act would take effect on July 1 of this year.