(1)Legislative declaration. The general assembly hereby encourages the administration and distribution of opioid antagonists, including expired opioid antagonists, by persons and entities, including law enforcement personnel, school district personnel, and health-care providers, for the purpose of saving the lives of people who suffer opioid-related drug overdose events. The general assembly also encourages each person who administers an opioid antagonist to another person to call for emergency medical services immediately.(2)General immunity.(a) A person, other than a health-care provider, is immune from criminal prosecution if the person acts in good faith to:(I) Furnish or administer an opioid antagonist to an individual the person believes to be suffering an opioid-related drug overdose event or to an individual who is in a position to assist the individual at risk of experiencing an opioid-related drug overdose event; or(II) Distribute the opioid antagonist.(b) This subsection (2) also applies to:(I) A person or entity described in section 12-30-110 (1)(a); except that an employee or agent of a school, or an employee or agent of a school district, a district school, the on (2) also applies to:(I) A person or entity described in section 12-30-110 (1)(a); except that an employee or agent of a school, or an employee or agent of a school district, a district school, the charter school institute, an institute charter school, or a nonpublic school who operates or is on a school bus, must be acting in accordance with section 12-30-110 (1)(b), (2)(b), and (4)(b), and, as applicable, section 22-1-119.1; and(II) A person who acts in good faith to furnish or administer an opioid antagonist in accordance with section 25-20.5-1001.(3)(a)Licensed prescribers and dispensers. An individual who is licensed by the state under title 12 and is permitted by section 12-30-110 or by other applicable law to prescribe or dispense an opioid antagonist is immune from criminal prosecution for:(I) Prescribing or dispensing an opioid antagonist in accordance with the applicable law; or(II) Any outcomes resulting from the eventual administration of the opioid antagonist by a layperson.(b) Repealed.(4) The provisions of this section shall not be interpreted to establish any duty or standard of care in the prescribing, dispensing, or administration of an opioid gonist by a layperson.(b) Repealed.(4) The provisions of this section shall not be interpreted to establish any duty or standard of care in the prescribing, dispensing, or administration of an opioid antagonist.(5)Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) Repealed.(b)(I) 'Health-care provider' means:(A) A licensed or certified physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or pharmacist; or(B) A health maintenance organization licensed and conducting business in this state.(II) 'Health-care provider' does not include a podiatrist, optometrist, dentist, or veterinarian.(c) 'Opioid' has the same meaning as 'opiate', as set forth in section 18-18-102 (21).(d) 'Opioid antagonist' has the same meaning as set forth in section 12-30-110 (7)(d).(e) 'Opioid-related drug overdose event' means an acute condition, including a decreased level of consciousness or respiratory depression, that:(I) Results from the consumption or use of a controlled substance or another substance with which a controlled substance was combined;(II) A layperson would reasonably believe to be an opioid-related drug overdose event; and(III) Requires medical ntrolled substance or another substance with which a controlled substance was combined;(II) A layperson would reasonably believe to be an opioid-related drug overdose event; and(III) Requires medical assistance.Amended by 2024 Ch. 458,§ 3, eff. 6/6/2024.Amended by 2024 Ch. 121,§ 8, eff. 8/7/2024.Amended by 2022 Ch. 225, § 18, eff. 7/1/2022.Amended by 2021 Ch. 33, § 3, eff. 4/15/2021.Amended by 2020 Ch. 287, § 5, eff. 9/14/2020.Amended by 2020 Ch. 304, § 7, eff. 7/14/2020.Amended by 2019 Ch. 136, § 90, eff. 10/1/2019.Amended by 2019 Ch. 273, § 7, eff. 5/23/2019.Amended by 2015 Ch. 78, § 9, eff. 4/3/2015.Added by 2013 Ch. 178, § 2, eff. 5/10/2013.L. 2013: Entire section added, (SB 13-014), ch. 656, p. 656, § 2, effective May 10. L. 2015: (2), IP(3)(a), (3)(a)(I), and (5)(e) amended and (3)(b) repealed, (SB 15 -053), ch. 216, p. 216, § 9, effective April 3. L. 2019: (2) amended, (SB 19-227), ch. 2579, p. 2579, § 7, effective May 23; (2) and IP(3)(a) amended, (HB 19-1172), ch. 1674, p. 1674, § 90, effective October 1. L. 2020: (2)(b)(I) amended, (HB 20-1206), ch. 1526, p. 1526, § 7, effective July 14; (2)(a) amended, (HB 20-1065), ch. 1420, p. 1420, § 5, effective September 14. L. 1674, § 90, effective October 1. L. 2020: (2)(b)(I) amended, (HB 20-1206), ch. 1526, p. 1526, § 7, effective July 14; (2)(a) amended, (HB 20-1065), ch. 1420, p. 1420, § 5, effective September 14. L. 2021: (2)(b)(I) amended, (SB 21 -122), ch. 137, p. 137, § 3, effective April 15.Amendments to subsection (2) by SB 19-227 and HB 19-1172 were harmonized.2024 Ch. 121, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3). (1) For the legislative declaration in the 2013 act adding this section, see section 1 of chapter 178, Session Laws of Colorado 2013. For the legislative declaration in HB 24-1003, see section 1 of chapter 121, Session Laws of Colorado 2024. (2) For the legislative declaration in HB 22-1326 stating the purpose of, and the provision directing legislative staff agencies to conduct, a post-enactment review pursuant to § 2-2-1201 scheduled in 2024, 2025, and 2027, see sections 1 and 55 of chapter 225, Session Laws of Colorado 2022. To obtain a copy of the review, once completed, go to 'Legislative Resources and Requirements' on the Colorado General Assembly's website.
Colorado Legal Code