Governor Hassan Presents Comprehensive Bill for Substance Abuse Special Session

Statement

In order to strengthen the state's efforts to combat the heroin and opioid crisis and to help save lives, Governor Maggie Hassan today presented a comprehensive bill for the legislature to consider during the special session on substance abuse that begins November 18.

"We must act quickly to give patients, providers, parents and law enforcement better tools to combat this epidemic and save lives," Governor Hassan said. "For the past several months, we have worked with experts, stakeholders and legislative leaders to develop this comprehensive proposal to stem the tide of this crisis. There is no reason to wait to take these common-sense steps to help save lives and strengthen our efforts to combat the most pressing public health and safety challenge facing our state."

"As the legislature returns for a special session on this critical issue, I expect that legislators will move quickly to ensure full public consideration and debate of this proposal and other ideas that legislators may bring forward," Governor Hassan said.

The legislation presented by the Governor today reflects the steps she proposed when calling for the special session. The proposed legislation would: bring the laws and penalties for fentanyl in line with those for heroin; require boards governing all prescribers to update their rules by April 1; establish a statewide drug court office to expand existing drug courts and establish new ones; mandate use of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and upgrade its technology; require all insurance companies to use the same evaluation criteria and remove some prior authorization requirements; limit emergency room prescriptions and all prescriptions to 34 days or 100 dosage units; allow increased oversight of pain and methadone clinics; update the Board of Medicine's membership; provide additional support to local law enforcement; add an attorney at the Department of Justice focused on drug crimes; and increase funding for the Governor's Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Recovery.

"This bill will support law enforcement, improve prevention, treatment, and recovery, and strengthen our efforts to help save lives and combat this urgent crisis that is devastating families and communities across the state," Governor Hassan said. "Through the special session, it will receive the full and swift attention that this issue needs, allowing for a robust public process and stakeholder input. I look forward to working with the legislature and stakeholders from all sectors to finalize a comprehensive, bipartisan package and take these important steps to save lives and combat the heroin and opioid crisis."

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