Politics & Government

Advocate: 'Good Samaritan' Bill Put on Hold

A Blackwood woman who has been an advocate for the law for 21 months hopes to use the extra time to build support for the bill.

Blackwood resident Patty DiRenzo had been hoping Thursday night was going to be one to celebrate a victory.

She was expecting the New Jersey Senate to at least vote on a bill she's supported for 21 months now at some point Thursday.

Instead, DiRenzo and other supporters of the so-called 911 Good Samaritan law found out they will have to wait until at least fall for passage of what they consider a common-sense, life-saving measure.

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"We just got word that Senate Bill 851, the Good Samaritan Emergency Response Act, is not going to be voted on today in the Senate. There are some concerns that need to be addressed and there may need to be some amendments," Drug Policy Alliance director Roseanne Scotti wrote to advocates in an email she sent out Thursday. "Since today is the last Senate session day before the summer break, (bill sponsor) Senator (Joseph F.) Vitale has agreed to 'hold' the bill to address the concerns over the summer.

"When the Legislature returns in the fall, the amended bill can be voted on by the Senate and Assembly," she added.

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DiRenzo has been an advocate for the law, working with Drug Policy Alliance, since her son, Salvatore Marchese, died at the age of 26 of a heroin overdose in September 2010.

"We just want to save lives," she said recently. "We're not asking for much here. You know, everybody deserves a chance to live."

The law would provide limited immunity for individuals who seek medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug overdose.

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office reportedly contacted Vitale Wednesday to express concerns over some language in the bill. Scotti called the setback "a bump in the road" and vowed "we will get this legislation signed into law."

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved its "Good Samaritan" bill by a 9-3-1 vote last Thursday. The Assembly approved its version of the bill by a 67-8 vote in May.

Advocates were hopeful the bill would be ready for Gov. Chris Christie's signature by the end of Thursday's Senate session.

Taking Scotti's cue, DiRenzo remains optimistic.

"I'm very disappointed and feel as if we are jeopardizing valuable lives with a delay like this, but I do understand that we need to get all the support possible in order to be sure that the governor signs it," she said.


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