Bill giving immunity to overdose witnesses who seek help advances

HARRISBURG - A bill to give prosecutorial immunity to drug overdose witnesses who call for help appears to be on a fast track to Gov. Corbett's desk.

The measure, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware), was unanimously approved Wednesday by the House of Representatives. Although it needs to go back to the Senate for approval, the measure has already been approved there once before - and Pileggi said he is confident it has the support in the upper chamber.

"I expect the Senate to send this bill to Gov. Corbett for his signature next week," he said in a statement.

Corbett spokesman Jay Pagni said the governor would sign the bill in its current form.

The bill would give drug users immunity from prosecution on certain drug crimes if they call authorities while with someone who is overdosing. Witnesses must give law enforcement identifying information about themselves, and stay with the overdose victim until help arrives.

The bill would also provide first responders with Naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Family members of people at risk of an overdose would also have access to the drug. According to Pileggi, Pennsylvania is one of two states that don't allow all first responders to carry the lifesaving antidote.

"As this bill has moved along, it has been clear that legislators from both parties, law enforcement, and civil rights advocates agree that saving lives is the number-one priority," said Andy Hoover, legislative director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, which supports the bill.

A separate bill passed by the House would change the name of the Department of Public Welfare to the Department of Human Services. The reason, sponsors say, is to erase any stigma associated with welfare, and capture the array of services provided by the department.

The House approved the bill in a 155-35 vote.

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