Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the State is facing a crisis due to the rapidly increasing number of opioid-related drug overdose deaths; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §2353, sub-§2, ¶¶A-2 and C-2 are enacted to read:
A-2. Until July 1, 2019, a pharmacist may prescribe and dispense naloxone hydrochloride in accordance with protocols established under Title 32, section 13815 to an individual at risk of experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose.
C-2. Until July 1, 2019, a pharmacist may prescribe and dispense naloxone hydrochloride in accordance with protocols established under Title 32, section 13815 to a member of an individual's immediate family or a friend of the individual or to another person in a position to assist the individual if the individual is at risk of experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose.
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §13815, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 508, §5, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause and provides for the authority of a pharmacist to prescribe naloxone hydrochloride in accordance with rules adopted by the Maine Board of Pharmacy. This authority expires on July 1, 2019.