SB 667 Virginia Senate · 2020 Regular Session

Overdoses; arrest and prosecution when experiencing or reporting.

Summary
Arrest and prosecution when experiencing or reporting overdoses. Provides that no individual shall be subject to arrest or prosecution for the unlawful purchase, possession, or consumption of alcohol; possession of a controlled substance; possession of marijuana; intoxication in public; or possession of controlled paraphernalia if (i) such individual (a) seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for himself, if he is experiencing an overdose, or for another individual, if such other individual is experiencing an overdose, or (b) is experiencing an overdose and another individual seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for him; (ii) such individual remains at the scene of the overdose or at any location to which he or the individual requiring emergency medical attention has been transported; (iii) such individual identifies himself to the law-enforcement officer who responds; and (iv) the evidence for a prosecution of one of the enumerated offenses would have been obtained only as a result of an individual seeking or obtaining emergency medical attention. The bill also provides that no law-enforcement officer acting in a good faith shall be found liable for false arrest if it is later determined that the person arrested was immune from prosecution. Current law provides an affirmative defense to such offenses only when an individual seeks or obtains emergency medical attention for himself, if he is experiencing an overdose, or for another individual, if such other individual is experiencing an overdose.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2020
Committee Review
Mar 2020
Senate Passage
Feb 2020
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2020
Signed into Law
Apr 2020
Introduced Jan 7, 2020 Signed Apr 9, 2020
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
32
Key actions
8
Committee
7
Amendments
5
Apr 9, 2020
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 1016 (effective 7/1/20)
executive
Mar 5, 2020
Lower · Passed
Passed House (59-Y 40-N)
lower
Mar 2, 2020
Lower · Passed
Reported from Courts of Justice (13-Y 6-N)
lower
Feb 28, 2020
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (4-Y 3-N)
lower
Feb 21, 2020
Committee
Assigned Courts sub: Criminal
lower
Feb 14, 2020
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
lower
Feb 11, 2020
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 11, 2020
Introduced
Reengrossed by Senate as amended SB667E2
upper
Feb 11, 2020
Upper · Passed
Amendment by Senator Boysko agreed to
upper
Feb 11, 2020
Introduced
Reading of amendment waived
upper
Feb 10, 2020
Introduced
Engrossed by Senate as amended SB667E
upper
Feb 10, 2020
Upper · Passed
Committee amendment agreed to
upper
Feb 10, 2020
Introduced
Reading of amendment waived
upper
Feb 5, 2020
Upper · Passed
Reported from Judiciary with amendment (9-Y 3-N)
upper
Jan 7, 2020
Committee
Referred to Committee on the Judiciary
upper
Jan 7, 2020
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20104169D
upper
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors