SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Fine championed a measure to mitigate the ongoing opioid crisis by expanding access to lifesaving resources at state agencies.

“Ensuring employees have necessary health care protections is important to prevent unanticipated risks and workplace liabilities,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “By making resources like opioid antagonists available to trained workers, we are not only supporting opioid mitigation efforts, we are also saving lives.”

House Bill 5028 would make opioid antagonists available at state agencies upon successfully training the agency’s employees on how to properly administer the medication. The measure also protects employees from civil liability should they administer the overdose reversal medication in compliance with the required training.

According to the National Safety Council, 9% of all workplace deaths in 2022 were a result of overdose. Between 2011 and 2022, the number of unintentional overdose deaths in the workplace increased from 73 to 525 – or 619%. Fine’s legislation will give employees accessible protections against potentially life-threatening circumstances and educate them on how to help someone who may be at risk.

House Bill 5028 passed the Senate on Thursday.