Bill Status of SB0009  104th General Assembly

Short Description:  END-OF-LIFE OPTIONS ACT

Senate Sponsors
Sen. Linda Holmes - Laura Fine - Karina Villa - Cristina Castro - Adriane Johnson, Mary Edly-Allen and Laura Ellman

Last Action
DateChamber Action
  4/10/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 11, 2025

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
New Act


Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act. Authorizes a qualified patient with a terminal disease to request that a physician prescribe aid-in-dying medication that will allow the patient to end the patient's life in a peaceful manner. Contains provisions concerning: the procedures and forms to be used to request aid-in-dying medication; the responsibilities of attending and consulting physicians; the referral of patients for determinations of mental capacity; the residency of qualified patients; the safe disposal of unused medications; the obligations of health care entities; the immunities granted for actions taken in good faith reliance upon the Act; the reporting requirements of physicians; the effect of the Act on the construction of wills, contracts, and statutes; the effect of the Act on insurance policies and annuities; the procedures for the completion of death certificates; the liabilities and penalties provided by the Act; the construction of the Act; the definitions of terms used in the Act; and other matters. Effective 6 months after becoming law.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Provides that the Act may be referred to as Deb's Law. Makes findings. In the interpreter attachment for a written request for medication form, requires an interpreter to attest that the patient consulted with an attending physician (rather than an attending physician and a consulting physician). In provisions regarding attending physician responsibilities, removes a requirement for the attending physician to ensure that a patient does not take the aid-in-dying medication in a public place (but does not remove a requirement to provide information to the patient on not taking the aid-in-dying medication in a public place). Removes a way for a patient to establish residency. Provides that intentionally misleading a patient constitutes coercion or undue influence (rather than just coercion). Makes changes to provisions regarding health care entity protections and permissible prohibitions and duties. Removes a requirement that the Department of Public Health collect and review forms to ensure compliance. Provides that certain information collected is not a public record, is not available for public inspection, and is not available through the Freedom of Information Act. Provides that the Department of Insurance shall enforce the provisions of this Act with respect to certain insurance policies. Requires the Department of Public Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs to adopt rules. Makes conforming changes in the Freedom of Information Act. Effective 9 months after the Act becomes law.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  1/13/2025SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Linda Holmes
  1/13/2025SenateFirst Reading
  1/13/2025SenateReferred to Assignments
  1/16/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen
  1/16/2025SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Fine
  1/22/2025SenateAssigned to Executive
  2/4/2025SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa
  2/26/2025SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro
  3/4/2025SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson
  3/4/2025SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman
  3/21/2025SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 4, 2025
  4/2/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Linda Holmes
  4/2/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
  4/2/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Executive
  4/4/2025SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As April 11, 2025
  4/9/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted
  4/9/2025SenateDo Pass as Amended Executive; 008-003-000
  4/9/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 10, 2025
  4/10/2025SenateSecond Reading
  4/10/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 11, 2025
  4/11/2025SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 9, 2025
  5/9/2025SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 23, 2025