HB 2396 — Concerning fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

H-2988.2H-2660.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2396 State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session By House Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Mosbrucker, Davis, Couture, Rule, Barkis, Jacobsen, and Pollet)Pollet READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 01/31/24.01/16/24.

Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

adding a new sectionsections to chapter 43.70 RCW;

and creating new sections.sections;

and providing an expiration date.

(e) EffectiveThe outreachtrue programsextent aboutof thethis negativepublic health effectsepidemic ofis fentanylnot misuseknown anddue abuseto toxicology screenings, that are necessarysensitive to helpfentanyl curband theother publicsynthetic healthopioids, crisis;not being broadly used by hospitals;

(f) IndividualsIncreasing whooutreach purchaseprograms orwarning recoverindividuals motorabout vehiclesthe innegative whichhealth fentanyleffects orof otherfentanyl syntheticmisuse opioidsand haveabuse beenis usednecessary faceto uniquehelp challengescurb inthe understandingpublic howhealth tocrisis; decontaminate the vehicles;

and p.

1 SHBHB 2396 (g) MoreThe shouldmisuse beand doneabuse toof connectfentanyl and other synthetic opioids is also having negative ancillary health effects on individuals who are arrestednot whileusing intoxicatedthe onsubstances, fentanylincluding individuals who unknowingly operate, or otherare syntheticpassengers opioidsin, automobiles contaminated with neededthe healthresidue careof andfentanyl treatmentor services.other synthetic opioids;

and (h) More should be done to connect individuals who are arrested while intoxicated on fentanyl or other synthetic opioids with needed health care and treatment services.

(a) ProvidingCreating guidancea ongrant publicprogram outreachto campaignsencourage onhospitals theto dangersuse oftoxicology misusingscreenings orcapable abusingof detecting fentanyl and other synthetic opioids;

(b) CompilingEstablishing informationa for"Not individualsEven whoOnce" wishpublic outreach campaign to decontaminatewarn aWashington vehiclecitizens inof whichthe fentanylhealth dangers of misusing or otherabusing syntheticfentanyl opioidsand wereother used;synthetic opioids;

and (c) IncreasingStudying the likelihoodhealth thatrisks individualsof, willand seekmitigation necessarystrategies substancefor, abusethe disorderresidue treatmentof byfentanyl offeringor toother connectsynthetic themopioids with treatment upon release from custody in jail.automobiles;

and (d) Increasing the likelihood that individuals will seek necessary substance abuse disorder treatment by offering to connect them with treatment upon release from custody in jail.

(1) InsofarSubject asto isthe appropriateavailability andof practicable,amounts whenappropriated conductingfor anythis publicspecific outreachpurpose, campaignthe ondepartment theshall dangersadminister ofa fentanylgrant andprogram otherto syntheticencourage opioids,hospitals theto departmentuse shalltoxicology ensurescreenings thatcapable campaignof materialsdetecting are:fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

(a)When Culturallyawarding appropriate;grants under this section, the department shall prioritize grants to hospitals not currently using toxicology screenings capable of detecting fentanyl and other synthetic opioids and hospitals designated as critical access hospitals.

(b)(2) AccessibleThe indepartment shall establish an application process and any other languages,procedures asnecessary appropriate;to administer the grant program.

andThe (c)department Accessiblemay toadopt theany deafrules andnecessary blindto communities.implement this section.

(2)(3) WhenBeginning designingJanuary public1, outreach2025, campaignsthe ondepartment theshall dangerssubmit ofannual fentanylreports andto otherthe syntheticappropriate opioids,committees of the departmentlegislature shallon considerany usinggrants theawarded phrase,under "Notthis Evensection Once"in wherethe appropriate.preceding calendar year.

NEWp. SECTION.

2 HB 2396 NEW SECTION.

(1)A Subjectnew tosection theis availabilityadded ofto amountschapter appropriated43.70 forRCW this specific purpose, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, in consultation with the department of health and the Washington poison center, shall compile resources on how to decontaminateread motoras vehiclesfollows: of fentanyl residue or other synthetic opioid residue in certain vehicles.

(2)(1) BeginningSubject Januaryto 1,the 2025,availability theof Washingtonamounts associationappropriated offor sheriffsthis andspecific policepurpose, chiefsthe department shall makedevelop theand materialsoperate availablea topublic lawoutreach enforcementcampaign agenciesto throughoutdeliver thepublic stateservice forannouncements thethat purposeexplain ofand providingclarify thecertain materialsrisks related to individualsthe whomisuse recoverof afentanyl stolenand vehicleother orsynthetic purchaseopioids, aincluding vehiclethe seizedrisk byof aoverdose, lawaddiction, enforcementrespiratory agency.depression, or oversedation.

p.When appropriate, the campaign must use the phrase "Not Even Once." (2) The materials produced by the campaign in subsection (1) of this section must be localized and targeted towards identifiable communities as deemed necessary by the department for the purpose of improving the efficacy of communication.

2Any SHBwritten 2396materials NEWmust SECTION.be presented in a manner easily understood by the public.

The department may use a multimedia approach and create materials across different formats.

(3) The department may coordinate with the health care authority, the department of social and health services' division of behavioral health and recovery, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, and other agencies and departments deemed necessary by the department.

NEW SECTION.

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs must study and report on the presence and associated dangers of fentanyl residue or other synthetic opioid residue in certain vehicles.

The report must include a study and recommendations on:

(a) Whether and how often residue from fentanyl or other synthetic opioid use is present in vehicles described in subsection (2) of this section in concentration levels sufficiently high enough to cause harm to the health and well-being of any occupant of the vehicle;

(b) The feasibility of developing and implementing standardized protocols and procedures that would require law enforcement to test for the presence of fentanyl residue or other synthetic opioid residue in a vehicle described in subsection (2) of this section;

and (c) Potential options by which the cost of developing and implementing the protocols and procedures under (b) of this subsection may be defrayed.

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3 HB 2396 (2) This section applies to the following:

(a) Stolen vehicles that have been found and recovered by law enforcement;

and (b) Vehicles seized by law enforcement that will be subject to a police auction.

(3) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs may contract with a consultant to complete the study and report under this section.

(4) The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by July 1, 2025.

(5) This section expires August 1, 2025.