Bill
A 911
Requires NJ higher education institutions to stock FDA-approved naloxone nasal spray and empower trained campus staff to administer it in suspected overdoses.
Status: Introduced (Print 911A) — Introduced 01/09/2024; sponsor: Asm. Phara Souffrant Forrest. Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee; later referred to Corrections and amended/recommitted (02/07/2025). Companion/related bills: S2803, S4269; prior-session A7533.
Note: The bill text supplied addresses emergency availability and administration of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray on college/university campuses. (This differs from a separate short title shown in the header.)
Purpose
- Require New Jersey institutions of higher education to maintain supplies of FDA‑approved naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray on campus and to adopt policies enabling trained campus personnel to administer it in suspected opioid overdose emergencies.
Key provisions
- Definitions: establishes terms such as “institution of higher education,” “licensed campus medical professional” (physician, PA, advanced practice nurse, or RN licensed in NJ), “naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray,” “opioid overdose,” and “resident assistant.”
- Procurement and storage: institutions must obtain naloxone under a standing order (per the Overdose Prevention Act or related law) and keep it in one or more secure but easily accessible campus locations. Quantities and types are set by the institution’s governing board in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services and the Secretary of Higher Education.
- Policy and oversight: institutions must develop policies that designate a licensed campus medical professional to oversee naloxone maintenance and emergency administration.
- Authorized administrators: licensed campus medical professionals may designate members of the campus community (e.g., resident assistants, campus security, emergency responders, licensed athletic trainers) to administer naloxone to anyone they in good faith believe is experiencing an opioid overdose.
- Training: designated administrators may only administer naloxone after completing training meeting guidelines established by the Secretary of Higher Education (in consultation with the Commissioner of Human Services and medical experts). Training must include overdose prevention information consistent with state law.
- Post‑administration care: policies must require emergency services transport of the overdose victim to a hospital emergency room after naloxone administration, even if symptoms appear resolved.
- Liability protections: licensed campus medical professionals, trained designees, pharmacists, or authorized practitioners issuing standing orders are protected from liability for good faith acts or omissions consistent with the act; protection does not extend to willful misconduct, gross negligence, or recklessness.
- Athletic trainer provision: administration by a designated licensed athletic trainer is not deemed a violation of the Athletic Training Licensure Act.
Implementation timeline
- Effective on the first day of the fourth month after enactment. The Secretary of Higher Education may take anticipatory administrative steps before that date to implement the law.
Who is affected
- Public and private (independent) colleges and universities in New Jersey, their governing boards, campus medical staff, resident assistants and other designated campus personnel, students and visitors (potential overdose victims), emergency responders, and entities providing training or standing orders.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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