§ 17a-674h — Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund. Report.

(a) As used in this section: (1) “Eligible entity” means (A) a municipality, (B) a local or regional board of education, (C) a similar body governing one or more nonpublic schools, (D) a district department of health, (E) a municipal health department, (F) a law enforcement agency, or (G) an emergency medical services organization; (2) “Emergency medical services personnel” has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-175 ; (3) “Opioid antagonist” means naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting and equally safe drug approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a drug overdose; (4) “Opioid drug” has the same meaning as provided in 42 CFR 8.2, as amended from time to time; (5) “Opioid use disorder” means a medical condition characterized by a problematic pattern of opioid use and misuse leading to clinically significant impairment or distress; (6) “Pharmacist” has the same meaning as provided in section 20-609a ; and (7) “Wholesaler” or “distributor” has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-70 . (b) There is established an Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund which shall be a separate nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any (1) amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by the state for the purposes of this section, (2) moneys required by law to be deposited in the account, and (3) gifts, grants, donations or bequests made for the purposes of this section. Investment earnings credited to the assets of the account shall become part of the assets of the account. Any balance remaining in the account at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in the account for the fiscal year next succeeding. The State Treasurer shall administer the account. All moneys deposited in the account shall be used by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the purposes of this section. The department may deduct and retain from the moneys in the account an amount equal to the costs incurred by the department in administering the provisions of this section, except that said amount shall not exceed two per cent of the moneys deposited in the account in any fiscal year. (c) Not later than January 1, 2024, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, shall use the Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund for the provision of opioid antagonists to eligible entities and by emergency medical services personnel to certain members of the public. Emergency medical services personnel shall distribute an opioid antagonist kit containing a personal supply of opioid antagonists and the one-page fact sheet developed by the Connecticut Alcohol and Drug Policy Council pursuant to section 17a-667a regarding the risks of taking an opioid drug, symptoms of opioid use disorder and services available in the state for persons who experience symptoms of or are otherwise affected by opioid use disorder to a patient who (1) is treated by such personnel for an overdose of an opioid drug, (2) displays symptoms to such personnel of opioid use disorder, or (3) is treated at a location where such personnel observes evidence of illicit use of an opioid drug, or to such patient's family member, caregiver or friend who is present at the location. Emergency medical services personnel shall refer the patient or such patient's family member, caregiver or friend to the written instructions regarding the administration of such opioid antagonist, as deemed appropriate by such personnel. (d) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services may, within available appropriations, contract with a wholesaler or distributor for the purchasing and distribution of opioid antagonists in bulk to eligible entities pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Each eligible entity shall make such bulk-purchased opioid antagonists available at no charge to a family member, caregiver or friend of a person who has experienced an overdose of an opioid drug or displays symptoms of opioid use disorder. (e) Emergency medical services organizations may obtain opioid antagonists for dissemination pursuant to subsection (c) of this section from a pharmacist pursuant to section 20-633c , 20-633d or 21a-286 . (f) Emergency medical services personnel shall document the number of opioid antagonist kits distributed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, including, but not limited to, the number of doses of an opioid antagonist included in each kit. (g) Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the executive director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services shall report to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services regarding the implementation of the provisions of subsections (c), (e) and (f) of this section, including, but not limited to, any information required under subsection (h) of this section for inclusion in the state substance use disorder plan developed pursuant to subsection (j) of section 17a-451 known to the executive director. (h) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall include in the state substance use disorder plan developed pursuant to subsection (j) of section 17a-451 the following information: (1) The amount of funds used to purchase and distribute opioid antagonists, (2) the number of eligible entities that received opioid antagonists under this section, (3) the amount of opioid antagonists purchased under this section, (4) the use of the opioid antagonists purchased by each such eligible entity, if known by the commissioner, and (5) any recommendations regarding the Opioid Antagonist Bulk Purchase Fund, including any proposed legislation to facilitate the purposes of this section.

Legislative History

(P.A. 23-97, S. 5; P.A. 24-68, S. 44.) History: P.A. 24-68 amended Subsec. (c) by making a technical change, effective May 28, 2024.