H.R. 4607: Samaritan Efforts to Ensure Key Health Emergency and Life-saving Protections Act

This bill, known as the Samaritan Efforts to Ensure Key Health Emergency and Life-saving Protections Act (SEEK HELP Act), seeks to provide legal protections for individuals who seek medical help during a drug overdose situation. Here’s an overview of its main provisions:

Definitions

The bill defines key terms such as:

• Controlled substance: As defined under the Controlled Substances Act.
• Emergency response providers: Defined under the Homeland Security Act.
• Opioid overdose reversal drug: A drug approved to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose.
• Seek medical assistance: Refers to reporting a drug overdose or helping someone else make that report.

Good Samaritan Protections for Drug Overdose Responses

The bill establishes protections for individuals who assist in overdose situations in two main ways:

Civil Liability Protections

Individuals administering opioid overdose reversal drugs cannot be held liable for harm caused during their good faith attempt to help someone who appears to be experiencing an overdose, with some exceptions for criminal misconduct or gross negligence.

Criminal Liability Protections

Individuals who seek medical assistance for themselves or others during an overdose will not be prosecuted for possession of controlled substances, as long as they are not engaged in criminal activity, such as the execution of a warrant.

Public Awareness Campaign

The bill mandates a public awareness campaign to inform people about the legal protections provided in overdose situations, facilitated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultation with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Use of Block Grant Funding

States receiving specific health grants can use those funds for:

• Public awareness campaigns about Good Samaritan laws.
• Training for criminal justice professionals and emergency responders.
• Data collection to evaluate the effectiveness of such laws.

GAO Report to Study Effectiveness

Within two years of the bill's enactment, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must report on the effectiveness of Good Samaritan laws, including:

• Implementation and enforcement across states.
• Impact on overdose-related fatalities and emergency department visits.
• Barriers faced during implementation.

Relevant Companies

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