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S3324
SENATE, No. 3324
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 5, 2026
Sponsored by:
Senator� SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Diegnan
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires institutions of higher education to maintain
supply and develop policy governing use of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray
for opioid overdose emergencies.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning the emergency administration of naloxone
hydrochloride nasal spray at institutions of higher education and supplementing
Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� As used in this act:
���� �Institution of higher
education� or �institution� means a public or independent institution of higher
education.
���� �Licensed campus medical
professional� means a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse,
or registered nurse who is appropriately licensed by the State of New Jersey
and is employed or engaged by an institution of higher education.
���� �Naloxone hydrochloride nasal
spray� means medication approved by the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), in the form of a nasal spray to treat an opioid overdose.
���� �Opioid overdose� means an
acute condition including, but not limited to, extreme physical illness,
decreased level of consciousness, respiratory depression, coma, or death
resulting from the consumption or use of an opioid drug or another substance
with which an opioid drug was combined, and that a layperson would reasonably
believe to require medical assistance.
���� �Resident assistant� means a
student enrolled at an institution of higher education who is responsible for
assisting students residing in a residence hall operated by an institution of
higher education.
���� 2.��� a.� An institution of
higher education shall obtain a supply of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray
through a standing order issued pursuant to section 4 of the �Overdose
Prevention Act,� P.L.2013, c.46 (C.24:6J-4) or section 1 of P.L.2017, c.88
(C.45:14-67.2) to be maintained in one or more secure and easily accessible
locations throughout the campus for the purpose of responding to an opioid
overdose emergency.� The naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray shall be maintained
by the institution in quantities and types deemed adequate by the governing
board of the institution in consultation with the Commissioner of
Human Services
.
���� b.��� An institution of higher
education shall develop a policy concerning the emergency administration of
naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose emergencies occurring on
campus.� The policy shall:
���� (1)�� designate a licensed
campus medical professional to oversee the institution�s program for the
maintenance and emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray
on campus;
���� (2)�� permit a licensed campus
medical professional to designate members of the higher education community
including, but not limited to, resident assistants, emergency responders,
campus security officers, and licensed athletic trainers to administer naloxone
hydrochloride nasal spray to any person whom the member in good faith believes
is experiencing an opioid overdose on campus; and
���� (3)�� require the
institution to offer an overdose victim
transportation
to a hospital emergency room by emergency services personnel after the
administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, even if the person�s
symptoms appear to have resolved.
���� c.���� A member of the higher
education community designated to administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray
by a licensed campus medical professional shall only be authorized to
administer the spray after receiving the training required under subsection b.
of section 3 of this act.
���� d. In the event that a
licensed athletic trainer, who is designated pursuant to this section to
administer naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, administers the spray, it shall
not constitute a violation of the "Athletic Training Licensure Act," P.L.1984,
c.203 (C.45:9-37.35 et seq.).
���� 3.��� a.� The Secretary of
Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of
Human Services
and appropriate medical
experts, shall establish guidelines for the development of a policy by an
institution of higher education for the emergency administration of naloxone
hydrochloride nasal spray.� Each institution of higher education shall implement
the guidelines in developing a policy pursuant to section 2 of this act.
���� b.��� The guidelines shall
include a requirement that a licensed campus medical professional and members
of the higher education community designated by the licensed campus medical
professional pursuant to subsection c. of section 2 of this act receive training
on standard protocols for the emergency administration of naloxone
hydrochloride nasal spray to a person experiencing an opioid overdose on
campus. The training shall include the overdose prevention information
described in subsection a. of section 5 of the �Overdose Prevention Act,�
P.L.2013, c.46 (C.24:6J-5).� The guidelines shall specify an appropriate entity
or entities to provide the training.
���� 4.���
An institution of higher education,
licensed campus medical
professional, member of the higher education community designated to administer
naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of
this act, pharmacist, or an authorized health care practitioner who issues a
standing order for naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to an institution of
higher education shall not be held liable for any good faith act or omission
consistent with the provisions of this act.� For purposes of this act, good
faith shall not include willful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness.
���� 5.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of
enactment, except the Secretary of Higher Education may take any anticipatory
administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation
of this act.
STATEMENT
����� This bill requires institutions of higher education
to maintain a supply of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray for opioid overdose
emergencies and permits emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride
nasal spray by licensed campus medical professionals and designated members of
the higher education community.
����� Institutions of higher education are to obtain a
supply of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray pursuant to a standing order
issued by a health care practitioner to be maintained in secure and easily
accessible locations throughout the campus in order to respond to an opioid
overdose emergency.� Institutions also would be required to develop a policy
concerning the emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray
for opioid overdose emergencies occurring on campus.� The policy is required to:�
(1) designate a licensed campus medical professional to oversee the
institution�s program for the maintenance and emergency administration of
naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray on campus; (2) permit a licensed campus
medical professional to designate members of the higher education community
including, but not limited to, resident assistants, emergency responders,
campus security officers, and licensed athletic trainers to administer naloxone
hydrochloride nasal spray to any person whom the member in good faith believes
is experiencing an opioid overdose on campus; and (3) require the institution
to offer an overdose victim transportation to a hospital emergency room by
emergency services personnel after the administration of naloxone hydrochloride
nasal spray, even if the person�s symptoms appear to have resolved.� A member
of the higher education community designated to administer naloxone
hydrochloride nasal spray by a licensed campus medical professional is only to
be authorized to administer the spray after receiving the required training.
����� The bill also directs the Secretary of Higher
Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services and
appropriate medical experts, to establish guidelines for the development of a
policy by an institution of higher education for the emergency administration
of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray.� Institutions of higher education are
required to implement the guidelines in developing a policy pursuant to the
bill.� Specifically, the guidelines are to include a requirement that a
licensed campus medical professional and members of the higher education
community designated by the licensed campus medical professional receive
training on standard protocols for the emergency administration of naloxone
hydrochloride nasal spray to a person experiencing an opioid overdose on
campus.� The training is also to include overdose prevention information
described in the State�s �Overdose Prevention Act.�� The guidelines are to
further specify an appropriate entity or entities to provide the training.
����� The bill provides immunity from liability for
institutions of higher education, licensed campus medical professionals,
designated members of the higher education community, pharmacists, or
authorized health care practitioners who issue a standing order for naloxone
hydrochloride nasal spray to an institution of higher education for any good
faith act or omission consistent with the provisions of the bill.� For purposes
of this bill, good faith does not include willful misconduct, gross negligence,
or recklessness.� The bill also provides that in the event that a licensed
athletic trainer, who is designated pursuant to the bill to administer naloxone
hydrochloride nasal spray, administers the spray, it is not to constitute a
violation of the "Athletic Training Licensure Act.�