A. A person who, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing an alcohol- or drug-related overdose shall not be arrested, charged, prosecuted or otherwise penalized, nor shall the property of the person be subject to civil forfeiture, for violating any of the following if the evidence for the alleged violation was obtained as a result of the need for seeking medical assistance:
(1) the provisions of Section 60-7B-1 or 60-7B-9 NMSA 1978;
(2) a restraining order; or
(3) the conditions of probation or parole.
B. A person who experiences an alcohol- or drug-related overdose and is in need of medical assistance shall not be arrested, charged, prosecuted or otherwise penalized, nor shall the property of the person be subject to civil forfeiture, for violating any of the following if the evidence for the alleged violation was obtained as a result of the overdose and the need for seeking medical assistance:
(1) the provisions of Section 60-7B-1 or 60-7B-9 NMSA 1978;
(2) a restraining order; or
(3) the conditions of probation or parole.
C. The act of seeking medical assistance for someone who is experiencing an alcohol- or drug-related overdose may be used as a mitigating factor in a criminal prosecution pursuant to the Liquor Control Act [60-3A-1 NMSA 1978] for which immunity is not provided pursuant to this section.
D. For the purposes of this section, "seeking medical assistance" means:
(1) reporting an alcohol- or drug-related overdose or other medical emergency to law enforcement, the 911 system or another emergency dispatch system, a poison control center or to a health care provider; or
(2) assisting an individual who is reporting an alcohol- or drug-related overdose or providing care to an individual who is experiencing an alcohol- or drug-related overdose or other medical emergency while awaiting the arrival of a health care provider.
History: Laws 2019, ch. 211, § 11.
Effective dates. — Laws 2019, ch. 211, § 17 made Laws 2019, ch. 211 effective July 1, 2019.
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