S.B. No. 584

	AN ACT
	relating to guidelines for prescribing opioid antagonists.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code, is
	amended by adding Chapter 170 to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 170.  PRESCRIPTION OF OPIOID ANTAGONISTS
	Sec. 170.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter, "opioid
	antagonist" and "opioid-related drug overdose" have the meanings
	assigned by Section 483.101, Health and Safety Code.
	Sec. 170.002.  GUIDELINES. (a)  The board shall adopt
	guidelines for the prescription of opioid antagonists.
	(b)  The guidelines must address:
	(1)  prescribing an opioid antagonist to a patient to
	whom an opioid medication is also prescribed; and
	(2)  identifying patients at risk of an opioid-related
	drug overdose and prescribing an opioid antagonist to that patient
	or to a person in a position to administer the opioid antagonist to
	that patient.
	(c)  In adopting guidelines under this section, the board:
	(1)  shall consult with the Texas State Board of
	Pharmacy;
	(2)  shall consult materials published by the Substance
	Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the United
	States Department of Health and Human Services; and
	(3)  may consult other appropriate materials,
	including medical journals subject to peer review and publications
	by medical professional associations.
	Sec. 170.003.  LIABILITY FOR ACT OR OMISSION WITH RESPECT TO
	PRESCRIBING AN OPIOID ANTAGONIST. A physician who acts in good
	faith and with reasonable care, regardless of whether the physician
	follows the guidelines adopted under this chapter, is not subject
	to criminal or civil liability or any professional disciplinary
	action for:
	(1)  prescribing or failing to prescribe an opioid
	antagonist; or
	(2)  any outcome resulting from the eventual
	administration of an opioid antagonist prescribed by the physician.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act relating to
	conduct that is grounds for imposition of a disciplinary sanction
	applies only to conduct that occurs on or after September 1, 2017.
	Conduct that occurs before September 1, 2017, is governed by the law
	in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and the former law is
	continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act relating to
	conduct that is the basis for civil liability applies only to
	conduct that occurs on or after September 1, 2017. Conduct that
	occurs before September 1, 2017, is governed by the law in effect on
	the date the conduct occurred, and the former law is continued in
	effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act relating to
	conduct that constitutes a criminal offense applies only to an
	offense committed on or after September 1, 2017. For purposes of
	this section, an offense is committed before September 1, 2017, if
	any element of the offense occurs before that date. An offense
	committed before September 1, 2017, is governed by the law in effect
	on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is
	continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 584 passed the Senate on
	April 19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 584 passed the House on
	May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, one
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor