Public safety panel advances bill to expand immunity protections to people reporting overdoses

Imagine you’re witnessing a friend overdosing on drugs. You want to call 911 for help but are reluctant because you’re in possession of illegal drugs yourself.

Should you hesitate for fear of being arrested?

No, because Minnesota has a “Good Samaritan” law that gives immunity to a person who summons help for someone overdosing on drugs. That means a cop responding to your 911 call can’t arrest you if you’re holding illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia.

The current law no doubt saves lives, said Rep. Patty Acomb (DFL-Minnetonka), but drug overdoses remain the No. 1 cause of death among young adults in this country.

She believes even more lives could be saved if the law would protect not just the person placing the emergency call, but anyone “acting in concert” with the person calling for help.

She sponsors HF3812 to make that change. The House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee approved the bill, as amended, Thursday and sent it to the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. No one spoke in opposition.

Colleen Ronnei, executive director of Change the Outcome, said young people are afraid to call 911 to help someone experiencing an overdose because only the caller has protection. Instead, impaired kids often flee the scene, some in cars, and that’s a serious public safety issue.