FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2016

HOPE Agenda Bill Signings Statement

GREEN BAY- Today, Governor Scott Walker signed eight bills as part of the HOPE agenda around the State of Wisconsin. The package of bills are part of the larger HOPE agenda aimed to fight the growing problem of heroin and prescription opioid addiction. The bills range from changes to the prescription drug monitoring programs to banning drug masking agents used to pass drug tests.

Senator Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) released the following statement regarding the bills being signed into law:

“I have supported the entire HOPE agenda and am pleased to see these bills become law. I authored Assembly Bill 658, which bans the sale and use of masking agents in mandatory employment drug screenings. I am sure that our resolve to fight the growing problem of opioid addiction in Wisconsin will help to save lives, prevent unnecessary deaths and overdoses. I also want to thank Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) for his unwavering leadership on this issue. However, the reforms we have passed in the legislature can only solve part of the problem. If you know someone that is struggling with opioid addiction, please help them get the support they may need. You can start by visiting the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s website doseofrealitywi.gov/get-support/ to get that person on the road to recovery.”

Following are the eight bills signed into law today:

. AB 364: Relating to: reporting, disclosure, and practitioner review requirements under the prescription drug monitoring program; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; and granting rule-making authority.

. AB 365: Relating to: duty of law enforcement officers to report to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program controlled-substance violations, opioid-related drug overdoses or deaths, and reports of stolen prescription drugs.

. AB 366: Relating to: pain clinic certification and requirements, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty.

. AB 367: Relating to: reporting by treatment programs using methadone and requiring review of prescription drug monitoring database.

. AB 658: Relating to: the use, possession, manufacture, distribution, and advertisement of a masking agent and providing a criminal penalty.

. AB 659: Relating to: opioid treatment programs.

. AB 660: Relating to: guidelines for prescribing controlled substances and the examination authority of the Medical Examining Board.

. AB 766: Relating to: review and reporting requirements for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program