AUGUSTA - Today, a majority of the Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted to advance LD 1036, An Act to Require All Police Officers to Carry Naloxone Hydrochloride When on Duty. The vote was 7-4 in favor, with two absent. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Nina Milliken, D-Blue Hill.
As amended, the bill would require uniformed patrol officers to carry Naloxone Hydrochloride, also known by the brand name Narcan, on their person or in their police vehicle.
"Today's vote is a small victory in the fight for the lives of folks who live with substance use disorder, as well as their loved ones," said Milliken. "Maine lost 716 lives to overdoses in 2022. By requiring police officers to carry and use Narcan, we will hopefully see this number decrease in coming years. Each and every Mainer lost to a drug overdose is loved and missed every day. One of the first steps to getting people into recovery is making sure that they stay alive. Making our officers carry Narcan will help do just that."
The bill faces further votes in the House and Senate in the coming weeks.
Milliken, a member of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, is serving her first term in the Maine House and represents Blue Hill, Brooksville, Castine, Sedgwick, Surry and Trenton.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Milliken], c. 305-965-2744