Health Organizations, Professionals Call on Raimondo to Veto Kristen's Law

Health Organizations, Professionals Call on Raimondo to Veto Kristen's Law

The Rhode Island Medical Society and other medical organizations across the state are calling for Governor Gina Raimondo to veto Kristen’s Law.

Read the Letter to Raimondo Below

The bill has a vote on the house floor on Thursday, June 14 after it was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

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“We want to note that this bill will have no real impact on reducing the supply or demand for opioids in the state of Rhode Island, and its intent stands in direct contradiction to your remarkable work on promoting justice reinvestment in our state,” the groups wrote in their letter.

The Bill

The bill is named after Kristen Coutu, who died in 2014 after overdosing on fentanyl.

According to the Attorney General’s office, she thought she was purchasing heroin.

The legislation is sponsored by Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and would create a crime called drug-induced homicide, allowing prosecutors to charge drug dealers with murder if their products cause a person to overdose and die.

The bill has been amended to carry a sentence of "up to life" in prison, giving judges discretion in deciding the punishment. 

Read the Letter to Raimondo Below