A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to direct the city of wilmington to develop and implement a pilot project to establish a quick response team to address the unmet needs of opiate overdose victims who are in need of FOLLOW‑UP treatment, counseling, support, and other recovery services.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Pilot Project. – The Department of Public Safety, in conjunction with the City of Wilmington, shall develop and implement a pilot project to establish a "Quick Response Team" (QRT) to address the needs of opiate and heroin overdose victims who are not getting follow‑up treatment. The QRT shall be staffed by firefighters, police officers, medics, and other law enforcement as determined by the Department of Public Safety and the City of Wilmington. The Department of Public Safety and the City of Wilmington shall work together to develop the policy and procedures for the QRT. In doing so, all of the following shall be considered:
(1)	Increase engagement and treatment with family counseling and recovery groups.
(2)	Provide follow‑up care to survivable overdose incidents with police/medics and licensed counselors.
(3)	Provide short‑ and long‑term support to overdose victims and families.
(4)	Provide follow‑up within three to five days after an initial incident.
(5)	Create a fatal review panel to analyze and keep track of the deaths of those served by QRT.
SECTION 2.  Report. – The Department of Public Safety and the City of Wilmington shall report on the results of the pilot project to the 2019 Regular Session of the General Assembly, upon its reconvening.
SECTION 3.  Appropriation. – There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) in recurring funds for the 2017‑2018 and 2018‑2019 fiscal years to fund the implementation of a Quick Response Team to address the needs of opiate and heroin overdose victims in the City of Wilmington.
SECTION 4.  Effective Date. – This act is effective when it becomes law.