A bill that would prevent a person from facing underage possession charges if he or she calls 911 in an alcohol-related emergency has bipartisan support in the state legislature, as well as among Athens and Ohio University officials.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl said. “From what I understand, it’s ‘why would you beat somebody up for helping out?’”
Medical Amnesty laws — perhaps better known as “Good Samaritan” laws — exist in 17 states and the District of Columbia and have been introduced by Democratic and Republican state lawmakers.
The Ohio bill aims to create an atmosphere in which people who need help aren’t afraid to ask for it, and the bill sponsors say it could help the 5,000 people under 21 who die in the U.S. from alcohol-related injuries each year.
About 600,000 people ages 18-21 report alcohol-related injuries, according to testimony from the bill’s sponsors.
Rep. Michael Stinziano, D-Columbus, is one of the sponsors and said he was inspired to support the legislation after one of his constituents brought the issue to his attention.
He added that the legislation is based on policies that several universities, including Ohio University, have adopted. It would not grant immunity for driving under the influence, disorderly conduct, property damage or other alcohol-related crimes.
Even though the structure of the would-be law is similar to policies already in place at some Ohio universities, Stinziano was reluctant to say it would be easy to get passed through the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate and then signed into law by Gov. John Kasich.
“I’m hesitant to predict an outcome so early on in the legislative process,” he said.
Stinziano said he’s hopeful legislators in the GOP-controlled state house would support a “common sense bill that will save lives,” especially because he has a Republican, Rep. Cliff Rosenberger of Clarksville, as a sponsor. Rosenberger was not available for comment by press time.
Though police are allowed to press charges on an individual who has called 911 for a dangerously intoxicated person who is drunk and underage, they typically do not choose to do so, said Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle.
“I don’t see any immediate harm, but sometimes change can bring unintended consequences,” Pyle said. “(The) majority of the time, we don’t take any enforcement action other than to help the person get medical attention, so it’s situational for us.”
Martha Compton, director of OU’s Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility, said she supports the law because students have used the university’s medical amnesty program “at least a handful of times this year.”
If a student is granted amnesty by OU, he or she must complete several requirements, including paying a $100 fee to cover an alcohol or drug intervention program and completing 10 hours of community service.
But only Compton’s office, which enforces OU’s Student Code of Conduct, can provide immunity, OU officials said, adding that the university’s policy does not apply to the OU Police Department, its law enforcement branch.
OU officials have joined lawmakers from the area in maintaining that these programs are not an excuse to drink underage.
“Obviously we don’t want to encourage anyone to break the law,” said Sen. Lou Gentile, D-Steubenville, whose district includes parts of Athens County.
Stinziano said he believes the way the law is written will minimize abuses.
The language in House Bill 392 states that an underage person would not face charges for underage possession if he or she intentionally sought medical assistance, stayed with the person he or she is calling for until help arrives and used his or her own name when seeking treatment.
Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Athens, said she likes the idea of the law because people shouldn’t “delay getting help out of fear of getting in trouble.”
— Allan Smith
contributed to this report
@Lucasdaprile
dl311710@ohiou.edu
This article appeared in print under the headline "State looks to pass new law."
