Steve’s Law is named in the memory of Steve Rummler, who lost his life to an opioid overdose in 2011. His family advocated for the law to increase access to naloxone and encourage people to take life-saving action without fear of legal consequences..
Steve’s Law passed unanimously through both the House of Representatives and Senate of the Minnesota state legislature in 2014
Under Minnesota Statutes Sec 604A.05, Steve’s Law is Minnesota’s Good Samaritan and Naloxone Law. Steve’s Law provides legal protection to people who seek (call 911) and stay for help in the situation of an overdose as well as the person overdosing.
The law also expanded naloxone access that allows first responders, law enforcement, and trained members of the public to carry and administer naloxone without a specific prescription.
Legal protection is important primarily because it encourages bystanders to provide aid in emergencies without the fear of being prosecuted for unintentional injury, wrongful death, or other circumstances. To protect those experiencing overdose and those seeking aid is to remove the legal barriers and personal hesitation that might otherwise prevent bystanders from offering potentially life-saving help.
Under Steve’s Law in Minnesota those who are legally protected includes the:
** As of August 2024, Steve’s Law has been expanded to include not only the caller and the person overdosing but also anyone else present who remains on the scene.
Under Steve’s Law a person’s pretrial release, probation, supervised release, or parole shall not be revoked based on an incident protected under Steve’s Law
Steve’s Law provides important legal protections, but there are some exceptions to this immunity. A person is NOT protected from prosecution if:
These provisions and limitations are designed to encourage people to seek emergency help, but not shield serious criminal activity unrelated to the immediate overdose situation
Steve’s Law expands access to naloxone, the life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses in a few major ways:
Expansion and immunity: Anyone can carry and administer naloxone, without prescription. When acting in good faith to save a life, they are legally protected under Minnesota law.
Third-party prescriptions: Anyone – such as family members, friends, or even bystanders can obtain naloxone to use in case of emergency, even if they are not the person at risk of an overdose.
Over-the-counter Sales: In 2023, Naloxone was approved for over-the-counter (OTC) sales, so prescriptions are no longer needed to obtain it.
We hope this information provides you with a better understanding of your rights surrounding seeking help for people experiencing overdose and your right to carry and administer Naloxone.
Witnessing a drug-related overdose can be extremely stressful but it is essential to stay calm and seek help. It is important to know your rights and know that you are protected if you encounter a situation of opioid overdose.
Steve’s Law is an important step that Minnesota has taken to protect individuals involved and encourage people to take life-saving measures.
