HOUSE BILL NO. 400                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to a person who seeks medical                                                                             
     assistance for a person experiencing a drug overdose."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  BETH KERTTULA,  Sponsor,  explained that  the                                                                   
bill is to encourage  people to dial 911 to save  the life of                                                                   
someone  who may  be suffering  from  a drug  overdose.   She                                                                   
referred to a  constituent's story which led  to the drafting                                                                   
of the bill.  She described the mitigating circumstances.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  requested  a  definition  for  "mitigating                                                                   
factor".   Representative  Kerttula  explained  that after  a                                                                   
trial if  there was a conviction  on a drug-related  offense,                                                                   
and the  defendant  did make an  attempt to  help the  person                                                                   
suffering  the overdose, then  the judge  can take  that into                                                                   
account when sentencing.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
6:31:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  concluded that  there  would  still be  an                                                                   
arrest made, but  the mitigating factors could  be considered                                                                   
when sentencing.  Representative Kerttula agreed.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Elton  MOVED to REPORT  HB 400 out of  Committee with                                                                   
individual  recommendations  and  accompanying  fiscal  note.                                                                   
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HB  400  was REPORTED  out  of  Committee  with a  "do  pass"                                                                   
recommendation   and  with  zero   fiscal  note  #1   by  the                                                                   
Department of Administration.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
AT-EASE        6:33:00 PM                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
RECONVENE      6:33:43 PM