Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Friel, Kinkead bill to protect good Samaritans in drug, alcohol overdoses passes House

Friel, Kinkead bill to protect good Samaritans in drug, alcohol overdoses passes House

When lives are on the line, law update would protect individuals giving aid

Rep. Paul Friel    June 17, 2026 | 3:22 PM

HARRISBURG, June 17 – The Pennsylvania House on Wednesday passed H.B. 1944, which would protect individuals who help another person in the event of a drug or alcohol overdose, announced state Reps. Paul Friel and Emily Kinkead, who sponsored the bill.

House Bill 1944, which passed with broad bipartisan support, would protect people, such as college students, from endangerment charges if they are administering aid to a person suffering an emergency overdose.

“Creating a culture of safety on campus means removing the threat of disciplinary action so students can step up and help one another without hesitation,” said Friel, D-Chester. “When we eliminate the fear of punishment, we break down the biggest barrier to calling for emergency help, which ultimately saves lives.”

“In a life-or-death crisis, hesitation can be fatal. Fear of legal repercussions should never stand in the way of a person doing the right thing,” said Kinkead, D-Allegheny. “This legislation guarantees that anyone who steps forward to help someone experiencing an overdose or alcohol poisoning will be shielded from criminal liability.

“By moving this legislation forward, we are ensuring that Pennsylvanians – especially our youth – can protect their peers during an emergency without risking their own futures.”

The representatives heard during a March public hearing that this legislation would have helped Rowan Price, who attended Bloomsburg University as a freshman last year. After returning to campus from a student conference for aspiring educators, Price found a student in his dormitory bathroom suffering from alcohol poisoning. Price testified that he and several other classmates helped the incapacitated student by cleaning him up, rolling him on his side, and calling for help. After officers arrived, Price testified that one officer became agitated and told the students “everything they did was wrong.” Weeks later, Price was charged with recklessly endangering another person, a crime punishable by up to two years in prison.

“We teach our children to look out for others and help people in need. Rowan stepped up and potentially saved a life that night. He should be celebrated, but instead he faced unjust charges, and his life was turned upside down,” Friel said. “We have a responsibility to make sure this never happens again. People shouldn’t be deterred from stepping up and doing the right thing, they should be encouraged, especially on our college campuses.”