Two Republican legislators have proposed strengthening Washington’s child endangerment laws to include fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
Reps. Jenny Graham, R-Spokane, and Travis Couture, R-Allyn, have prefiled House Bill 1087, which would criminalize knowingly exposing a child or dependent adult to fentanyl or other synthetic opioids.
“Fentanyl has devastated families and communities across Washington state. No child should be put in harm’s way because of the reckless actions of adults,” said Graham, who was recently appointed ranking Republican on the House Community Safety Committee. “This bill is a solution to fix Washington by protecting our most vulnerable and holding offenders accountable.”
Currently, under state law, endangerment with a controlled substance applies primarily to methamphetamine exposure. If passed, House Bill 1087 would expand the applicable substances to include fentanyl, its chemical derivatives and other synthetic opioids. Knowingly exposing a child or dependent adult to these substances would be classified as a Class B felony,