Governor Wolf Signs Fentanyl Test Strip Bill into Law

District Attorneys support the lawful use of test strips to lower opioid overdoses

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA) today commended Governor Wolf and state legislators for a new state law that ensures the lawful use of fentanyl test strips to detect the presence of the deadly drug.

In January, Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, who is PDAA’s legislative chairman, testified in support of the bill. Chardo said fentanyl can be 50 times more potent than heroin. The cheap drug is being mixed into other drugs, and many who overdose from fentanyl do not know they are using it.

“We support this legislation for one simple reason: It will literally save lives,” Chardo told lawmakers.

PDAA also commended Governor Wolf for signing a bill into law that will help crime victims seek compensation in the civil justice system. The new law allows crime victims the ability to seek relevant criminal history investigative information when they bring an action against a defendant in civil court in the Commonwealth. The Criminal History Record Information Act often prevented crime victims from obtaining the information needed to seek fair compensation in civil court.

PDAA, which supported both measures, also thanked the many organizations that worked with PDAA advocating the passage of these bills.

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