Bill Text: NJ S1192 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes State and local law enforcement entities to contract for bulk purchasing of heroin antidote.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-25 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [S1192 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-S1192-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JOSEPH F. VITALE
District 19 (Middlesex)
Senator FRED H. MADDEN, JR.
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes State and local law enforcement entities to contract for bulk purchasing of heroin antidote.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
AN ACT concerning the bulk purchase of heroin antidotes and supplementing P.L.2013, c.46 (C.24:6J-1 et seq.).
1. The Attorney General shall be authorized to negotiate, on behalf of State, county, and local law enforcement entities, emergency medical response entities, first aid or rescue squads, and other public entities in the State, directly with drug manufacturers to purchase or obtain more favorable prices or rebates for opioid antidotes as defined in section 3 of P.L.2013, c.46 (C.24:6J-3).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes the Attorney General to negotiate discounts and contract for bulk purchases of opioid antidotes such as Naloxone, also sold under the brand name Narcan, on behalf of certain public entities in the State.
In a June 2015 media release, Governor Christie announced that the Office of the Attorney General had negotiated a significant discount with the drug manufacturer Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the opiate antidote Narcan. It was indicated that police departments and other public first responder entities would receive a discount of nearly 20 percent, per dosage, via rebates from the manufacturers. Under the agreement, the Office of the Attorney General was to act as the administrative conduit in the rebate process in order to utilize the State's significant purchasing power.
In response to Fiscal Year 2016 - 2017 budget questions posed to the Department of Law and Public Safety, the Attorney General recognized the success of the program and indicated that police departments, first aid squads, and community non-profit organizations have all taken advantage of the program. The Attorney General further specified that the rebate agreement only covered purchases made before May 31, 2016.
The bill codifies the authority of the Attorney General to negotiate with drug manufacturers on behalf of State, county, and local law enforcement entities, emergency medical response entities, first aid or rescue squads, and other public entities to secure discounts on opioid antidotes, and to purchase these antidotes in bulk.
