HB1663

House Bill 1663 creates the criminal offenses of 'knowingly exposing another person to fentanyl' in the first and second degrees. A person commits the offense in the first degree if they knowingly expose another to fentanyl, resulting in serious physical injury, and in the second degree if it results in physical injury. Penalties vary based on the degree of injury and the status of the victim, with higher penalties for cases involving first responders or correctional facility employees. The bill defines 'expose' to include skin contact, inhalation, ingestion, or contact with mucus membranes or needles. It provides specific exemptions for medical professionals, pharmacists, and manufacturers acting within the scope of lawful prescriptions and regulations. Additionally, the bill amends sentencing guidelines for habitual offenders, specifying that if a defendant is convicted of both possession of fentanyl and a knowingly exposing charge from the same set of facts, the convictions count as one felony for sentencing purposes.