§978.1. Naloxone; first responder; prescription; administration to third party; limitation of liability

A. For the purposes of this Section, the following definitions apply:

(1) "First responder" means any of the following:

(a) A peace officer as defined in R.S. 40:2402.

(b) A firefighter regularly employed by a fire department of any municipality, parish, or fire protection district of the state of Louisiana, or any volunteer fireman of the state of Louisiana.

(c) An EMS practitioner as defined in R.S. 40:1131.

(2) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of a federally recognized Indian tribe or band or a state or political subdivision of a state, whose purpose is the detection and prevention of crime and enforcement of laws or ordinances.

(3) "Opioid-related drug overdose" means a condition including extreme physical illness, decreased level of consciousness, respiratory depression, coma, or the ceasing of respiratory or circulatory function resulting from the consumption or use of an opioid, or another substance with which an opioid was combined.

B. A first responder may receive a prescription for naloxone or another opioid antagonist, maintain the naloxone or other opioid antagonist in the first responder's possession, and administer the naloxone or other opioid antagonist to any individual who is undergoing or who is believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose.

C.(1) Before receiving a prescription for naloxone or another opioid antagonist pursuant to this Section, a first responder shall complete the training necessary to safely and properly administer naloxone or another opioid antagonist to individuals who are undergoing or who are believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose. The training, at a minimum, shall cover all of the following:

(a) Techniques on how to recognize symptoms of an opioid-related overdose.

(b) Standards and procedures for the storage and administration of naloxone or another opioid antagonist.

(c) Emergency follow-up procedures.

(2) A first responder shall keep a record of each instance in which the first responder administers naloxone or another opioid antagonist to an individual who is undergoing or who is believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose.

D. A law enforcement agency or fire department may enter into a written agreement to affiliate with an ambulance service provider or a physician for all of the following purposes:

(1) Obtaining a supply of naloxone or another opioid antagonist.

(2) Allowing law enforcement officers and firefighters to obtain the training necessary to safely and properly administer naloxone or another opioid antagonist to individuals who are undergoing or who are believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose.

E. A first responder who, reasonably believing another person to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose, administers naloxone or another opioid antagonist to that person shall be immune from civil liability, criminal prosecution, or disciplinary or other adverse action under any professional licensing statute for any outcomes resulting from the administration of the naloxone or another opioid antagonist to that person, unless personal injury results from the gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct of the first responder administering the drug.

F. The deputy secretary of public safety services of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall develop and promulgate, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, a set of best practices for use by a fire department or law enforcement agency in the administration and enforcement of this Section including but not limited to the training necessary to safely and properly administer naloxone or another opioid antagonist to individuals who are undergoing or who are believed to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose, the standards and procedures for the storage and administration of naloxone or another opioid antagonist, and emergency follow-up procedures.

Acts 2014, No. 253, §1; Acts 2018, No. 206, §4.