Bill Text: NJ A5445 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Requires AG to establish program to detect fentanyl in State's illegal drug supply and make information related to presence of fentanyl available in database accessible by law enforcement.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-6)

Status: (Passed) 2020-01-21 - Approved P.L.2019, c.504. [A5445 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-A5445-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 5445

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED MAY 23, 2019

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  LISA SWAIN

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  P. CHRISTOPHER TULLY

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  WILLIAM W. SPEARMAN

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle, Assemblyman Houghtaling, Assemblywomen Downey, Lopez, Assemblymen Space, Wirths and Verrelli

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires AG to establish program to detect fentanyl in State's illegal drug supply and make information related to presence of fentanyl available in database accessible by law enforcement.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee on November 18, 2019, with amendments.

 

An Act concerning the testing of illegal substances seized by law enforcement and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a. The Attorney General ¹[, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health,]¹ shall ¹[establish]  maintain¹  a program to monitor ¹drug activity in this State and surrounding regions.  The program shall provide for multi-jurisdictional sharing of drug incident information among law enforcement agencies.  Information related to drug seizures, overdoses, criminal behavior, and health care-related services shall be collected and analyzed for the purpose of:

     (1)   assisting in facilitating the development of enhanced policies and practices to prevent drug abuse and misuse; and

     (2)   mitigating the harm drugs inflict on communities . 

     The program shall monitor and analyze¹ trends related to the presence and content of fentanyl in illegal substances seized by law enforcement throughout the State.  In order to identify these trends, the Attorney General shall require ¹[all]¹ controlled dangerous substances seized by law enforcement officers in the State to be tested for the presence of fentanyl ¹in accordance with protocols established by the Division of State Police¹. 

     b.    The seized substances shall be tested ¹in accordance with protocols established by the Division of State Police¹ to determine whether fentanyl ¹[is] or other potentially lethal substances are¹   present in the substance and, if so, any available information related to the presence and content of fentanyl in the substance shall be reported to the Attorney General in a timely manner.

     c.     The testing shall be performed using ¹[the most current drug testing] forensic laboratory analysis¹ techniques ¹[available including, but not limited to, fentanyl testing strips, in order] the Division of State Police determines to be appropriate¹ to evaluate whether a substance contains fentanyl.

     d.    The information received pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall be compiled into a database that is accessible by all law enforcement agencies throughout the State.  The information shall be continuously updated to reflect the most current information available concerning the presence of fentanyl in illegal substances in the State.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect ¹[on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment] immediately¹.