To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat dr...
Officially: “To direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdose, and for other purposes.” Read the full text
What it does
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1Controlled substance onboard vessels
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1. Controlled substance onboard vessels Section 70503(a) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking While on board a covered vessel, an and inserting An ; (2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) manufacture or distribute, possess with intent to manufacture or distribute, or place or cause to be placed with intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance on board a covered vessel; ; (3) in paragraph (2) by inserting on board a covered vessel before the semicolon; and (4) in paragraph (3) by inserting while on board a covered vessel after such individual .
2Policy and briefing on availability of naloxone to treat opioid overdoses
This section would require the Commandant of the Coast Guard, not later than 1 year after enactment, to update Coast Guard policy on the use of medication to treat drug overdoses, including the use of naloxone or other similar medication to treat opioid overdoses, including fentanyl overdoses. The updated policy would have to require that naloxone or other similar medication be available to Coast Guard members on all Coast Guard installations and in each operational environment. Not later than 1 year after enactment or after a tracking system established under section 706 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 is established, whichever happens first, the Commandant would have to make sure the Coast Guard takes part in that tracking system. By that same deadline, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard operates when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, together with the Secretary of Defense, would have to finalize a memorandum of understanding to give the Coast Guard access to that tracking system. Not later than 2 years after enactment, the Commandant would have to give the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation a briefing on the use, by Coast Guard members and personnel at Coast Guard facilities, aboard Coast Guard assets, and during Coast Guard operations, of naloxone or other similar medication to treat opioid overdoses, including fentanyl overdoses, and of opioids, including fentanyl. That briefing would have to include a description of the progress made in implementing the updated policy, the prevalence and incidence of illegal use of fentanyl and other controlled substances in the Coast Guard during the 5 years before the briefing, Coast Guard processes to reduce substance abuse in the Coast Guard, particularly involving fentanyl, and the status of the memorandum of understanding. It would also have to include, for the 5 years before the briefing, a review of instances in which naloxone or other similar medication was used to treat opioid overdoses, including fentanyl overdoses, at a Coast Guard facility, aboard a Coast Guard asset, or during a Coast Guard operation. In carrying out these requirements, the Commandant would have to comply with applicable privacy law, including the Privacy Act (section 552a of title 5, United States Code) and the privacy regulations issued under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Finally, for purposes of the availability requirement, if a Coast Guard installation is made up of multiple Coast Guard facilities or units, naloxone or other similar medication available at just one facility within that installation would count as available to all the facilities and units on the installation, as long as arrangements are in place to guarantee access to that medication at all times during operations.
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2. Policy and briefing on availability of naloxone to treat opioid overdoses (a) Policy Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall update the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdoses, including the use of naloxone or other similar medication to treat opioid, including fentanyl, overdoses. (b) Availability The updated policy required under subsection (a) shall require naloxone or other similar medication be available for members of the Coast Guard— (1) on all Coast Guard installations; and (2) in each operational environment. (c) Participation in tracking system Not later than 1 year after the earlier of the date of enactment of this Act or the date on which the tracking system established under section 706 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 ( 10 U.S.C. 1090 note) is established, the Commandant shall ensure the participation of the Coast Guard in the such tracking system. (d) Memorandum of understanding Not later than 1 year after the earlier of the date of enactment of this Act or the date on which the tracking system established under section 706 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 ( 10 U.S.C. 1090 note) is established, the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating when not operating as a service in the Navy and the Secretary of Defense shall finalize a memorandum of understanding to facilitate Coast Guard access such tracking system. (e) Briefing (1) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall provide the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a briefing on the use, by members and personnel of the Coast Guard at Coast Guard facilities, onboard Coast Guard assets, and during Coast Guard operations, of— (A) naloxone or other similar medication to treat opioid, including fentanyl, overdoses; and (B) opioids, including fentanyl. (2) Elements The briefing required under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) A description of— (i) the progress made in the implementation of the updated policy required under subsection (a); (ii) the prevalence and incidence of the illegal use of fentanyl and other controlled substances in the Coast Guard during the 5-year period preceding the briefing; (iii) processes of the Coast Guard to mitigate substance abuse in the Coast Guard, particularly with respect to fentanyl; and (iv) the status of the memorandum of understanding required under subsection (d). (B) For the 5-year period preceding the briefing, a review of instances in which naloxone or other similar medication was used to treat opioid, including fentanyl, overdoses at a Coast Guard facility, onboard a Coast Guard asset, or during a Coast Guard operation. (f) Privacy In carrying out the requirements of this section, the Commandant shall ensure compliance with all applicable privacy law, including section 552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Privacy Act ), and the privacy regulations promulgated under section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note). (g) Rule of construction For purposes of the availability requirement under subsection (b), with respect to a Coast Guard installation comprised of multiple Coast Guard facilities or units, naloxone or other similar medication available at a single Coast Guard facility within the installation shall be considered to be available to all Coast Guard facilities or units on the installation if appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure access, at all times during operations, to the naloxone or other similar medication contained within such single Coast Guard facility.
Where it is
In the House.