[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5048 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5048


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 11, 2016

  Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To require a study by the Comptroller General of the United States on 
Good Samaritan laws that pertain to treatment of opioid overdoses, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Good Samaritan Assessment Act of 
2016''.

SEC. 2. FINDING.

    The Congress finds that the executive branch, including the Office 
of National Drug Control Policy, has a policy focus on preventing and 
addressing prescription drug misuse and heroin use, and has worked with 
States and municipalities to enact Good Samaritan laws that would 
protect caregivers, law enforcement personnel, and first responders who 
administer opioid overdose reversal drugs or devices.

SEC. 3. GAO STUDY ON GOOD SAMARITAN LAWS PERTAINING TO TREATMENT OF 
              OPIOID OVERDOSES.

    The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a 
report on--
            (1) the extent to which the Director of National Drug 
        Control Policy has reviewed Good Samaritan laws, and any 
        findings from such a review, including findings related to the 
        potential effects of such laws, if available;
            (2) efforts by the Director to encourage the enactment of 
        Good Samaritan laws; and
            (3) a compilation of Good Samaritan laws in effect in the 
        States, the territories, and the District of Columbia.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the term ``Good Samaritan law'' means a law of a State 
        or unit of local government that exempts from criminal or civil 
        liability any individual who administers an opioid overdose 
        reversal drug or device, or who contacts emergency services 
        providers in response to an overdose; and
            (2) the term ``opioid'' means any drug, including heroin, 
        having an addiction-forming or addiction-sustaining liability 
        similar to morphine or being capable of conversion into a drug 
        having such addiction-forming or addiction-sustaining 
        liability.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 10, 2016.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.