ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia senators have approved a plan to create legal protections for overdose victims or anyone who calls for medical assistance on their behalf.
Families of overdose victims have pushed what’s being called the 911 Medical Amnesty Law.
The Senate version would effectively bar law enforcement from making drug or certain alcohol-related arrests based on medical assistance calls, as long as only small amounts of illegal substances are involved.
The immunity would apply to the person suffering from an overdose and to anyone who calls for help on their behalf. The bills states that immunity would not bar prosecutions resulting from other investigations.
Senators changed the bill so it would protect minors from alcohol possession charges.
The proposal now goes back to the House, which will consider the Senate version.
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