Bill Text: CA SB641 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Public health: alcohol and drug programs: naloxone.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Vetoed) 2024-01-25 - Veto sustained. [SB641 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB641-Amended.html
Drug-approved Drug Administration-approved formulations and dosage strengths of naloxone or any other opioid antagonist that are indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose available to eligible NDP applicants
through the NDP to the extent that this does not jeopardize federal funding.
Bill Title: Public health: alcohol and drug programs: naloxone.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Vetoed) 2024-01-25 - Veto sustained. [SB641 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB641-Amended.html
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Amended
IN
Senate
May 01, 2023 |
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Amended
IN
Senate
March 20, 2023 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 641
| Introduced by Senator Roth (Coauthor: Senator Rubio) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Haney and Sanchez) |
February 16, 2023 |
An act to add Section 11775.2 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 641, as amended, Roth.
Public health: alcohol and drug programs: naloxone.
Existing law establishes the State Department of Health Care Services within the California Health and Human Services Agency. Existing law sets forth the department’s powers and duties, including receiving federal funds payable directly to the state by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to implement programs that provide services to alleviate the problems related to alcohol and other drug use. The Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP) is administratively created by the department to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths.
This bill would require the department, as part of the NDP, to make all United States Food and Drug Administration-approved formulations and dosage strengths of naloxone or any other opioid antagonist
that are indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose available to NDP applicants.
through the NDP. The bill would make legislative findings and declarations.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) California’s opioid epidemic represents one of the greatest public health crises in our state’s history.
(b) Based on preliminary data, there were 6,843 opioid-related overdose deaths in California in 2021. Of these deaths, 5,722 were related to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Of those fentanyl-related deaths, 224 were among California teens, 15 to 19 years of age, inclusive.
(c) The scope and scale of the opioid crisis demands that California use all available tools to prevent overdose deaths.
(d) One tool to combat this crisis is the utilization of the Naloxone Distribution Project administered by the State Department of Health Care Services. The Naloxone Distribution Project currently distributes naloxone to law enforcement, schools, community organizations, and other groups upon completion of an application.
(e) Naloxone is an opioid antagonist indicated for the complete or partial reversal of opioid overdose, including respiratory depression, induced by natural and synthetic opioids. It may be delivered intramuscularly with a needle or intranasally. Naloxone is indicated for emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid
overdose. It is not a substitute for emergency medical care.
(f) The State of California’s “Naloxone Standing Order” expressly states: “The purpose of this standing order is to help reduce morbidity and mortality associated with opioid overdose by facilitating the distribution and administration of naloxone hydrochloride (naloxone).”
(g) While the Naloxone Distribution Project’s distribution of four-milligram doses or less of naloxone has been sufficient in the past, there is increasing evidence that administration of a single four-milligram dose is may be insufficient to reverse an overdose due to the prevalence
of the more potent fentanyl.
(h) Given the importance of timely administration of an opioid antagonist and that someone administering an opioid antagonist may not have access to multiple doses, it is critical important that United States Food and Drug-approved Drug Administration-approved stronger dosage formulations of an opioid antagonist be made available.
(i) The standing order contains no limitation on dosage strengths of naloxone to be made
available to “non-prescribing entities to distribute...to individuals at risk of opioid overdose, their family members and friends...”
(j) While there is currently no limitation on the dosage strength, the State Department of Health Care Services has not made a higher dose of an opioid antagonist available.
(k) This bill authorizes and directs the State Department of Health Care Services to make all United States Food and Drug-approved
Drug Administration-approved formulations and dosage strengths of naloxone available to eligible applicants of through the Naloxone Distribution Project.
