House Amendment 1
H 3691 - Session 125 (2023-2024)
Coroners - First Responders

The Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs proposes the following amendment (LC-3691.AHB0001H):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 17-5-135 and inserting:

Section 17-5-135.A coroner, deputy coroner, or coroner's designee may possess and administer an opioid antidote pursuant to the requirements of the South Carolina Overdose Prevention Act. The coroner, deputy coroner, or coroner's designee must comply with all of the requirements of Section 44-130-60 and is entitled to immunity from civil or criminal liability or professional disciplinary action when administering an opioid antidote to a person he believes in good faith is experiencing an opioid overdose.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 2, by striking Section 44-130-90(A), (B), (C), and (D) and inserting:

(A) A coroner, deputy coroner, or coroner's designee may administer an opioid antidote if the coroner, deputy coroner, or coroner's designee believes in good faith that the person is experiencing an opioid overdose.

(B) The coroner, deputy coroner, or coroner's designee must comply with all applicable requirements for possession, administration, and disposal of the opioid antidote and administration device. The department may promulgate regulations to implement this section, including appropriate training for coroners, deputy coroners, or coroners' designees who carry or have access to an opioid antidote.

(C) A coroner, deputy coroner, or coroner's designee who administers an opioid antidote in accordance with the provisions of this section to a person whom the coroner, deputy coroner, or coroner's designee believes in good faith is experiencing an opioid overdose is not by an act or omission subject to civil or criminal liability or to professional disciplinary action.

(D)(1) A coroner, deputy coroner, or coroner's designee who administers an opioid antidote as provided in this section shall report to the department's Bureau of Emergency Medical Services information regarding the opioid antidote administered for inclusion in the prescription monitoring program. The information submitted must include:

(a) date the opioid antidote was administered; and

(b) name, address, and date of birth of the person to whom the opioid antidote was administered, if available.

(2) A coroner, deputy coroner, or coroner's designee shall submit the information required pursuant to item (1) electronically or by facsimile to the Bureau of Emergency Services within thirty days of administration. The Bureau of Emergency Medical Services shall transmit the information to the department's Bureau of Drug Control.

(3)(a) If a coroner, deputy coroner, or coroner's designee submits the name, address, and date of birth of a person to whom an opioid antidote was administered, Drug Control shall verify whether any prescription history of the person appears in the prescription monitoring program and, if prescription history exists, shall document for review by a practitioner or an authorized delegate the date on which the opioid antidote was administered to the person. If no history exists, then Drug Control shall confirm that the antidote was administered in response to a verified opioid overdose. If the antidote was administered in error, then Drug Control shall document the error.

(b) Drug Control also shall maintain data on the administering of opioid antidotes by coroners, deputy coroners, or coroners' designees including, but not limited to, the frequency with which coroners, deputy coroners, or coroners' designees administer opioid antidotes by geographic location, coroner, deputy coroner, or coroner's designee, and dispenser.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 3, by striking Section 17-5-510(3) and inserting:

(3) both a coroner and a deputy coroner are considered public safety officers under 34 U.S.C. � 10281 et seq., if killed in the line of duty.