PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Rhode Island Senate has approved a bill offering additional protections to people who seek emergency medical help when someone has overdosed.
Current law provides immunity from prosecution for drug possession if people call for help in such cases, even if drugs are found at the scene. But a person could be charged with delivery or sale of illegal substances.
The bill by Warwick Democratic Sen. Michael McCaffrey would change that, and give people immunity for parole or probation violations. He says the top concern needs to be saving lives.
The bill passed by the Senate Thursday would expand Rhode Island’s “Good Samaritan” law and extend it by two years. The law is set to expire July 1.
Public health advocates support McCaffrey’s bill, which now heads to the House.
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