Signed by President Donald Trump

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill extends the temporary scheduling order for fentanyl-related substances until May 6, 2021.

Highlights:

•  Requires the United States Comptroller General to (Sec. 3):

• Conduct a study of the classification of fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act, research fentanyl-related substances, and the importation of fentanyl-related substances into the US; and 

• Submit a report on the results of the study to:

• The House and Senate Judiciary Committees; 

• The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; 

• The Senate International Narcotics Control Caucus; and

• The House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

• Requires the Comptroller General to consider the views of experts from non-federal entities when conducting the study and developing the report, including experts from (Sec. 3):

• The scientific and medical research community; 

• The state and local law enforcement community; and

• The civil rights and criminal justice reform communities. 

• Requires the Comptroller General, when conducting the study and developing the report, to (Sec. 3):

• Evaluate class control of fentanyl-related substances, including:

• The definition of the class of fentanyl-related substances, including the process by which the definition was formulated; 

• The potential for classifying fentanyl-related substances with no or low abuse potential, or potential accepted medical use, as schedule I controlled substances when scheduled as a class; and 

• Any known classification of fentanyl-related substances with no or low abuse potential, or potential accepted medical use;

• Review the impact or potential impact of controls on fentanyl-related substances on public health and safety, including on:

• Diversion risks, overdose deaths, and law enforcement encounters with fentanyl-related substances; and

• Federal law enforcement investigations and prosecutions of offenses related to fentanyl-related substances; 

• Review the impact of international regulatory controls on fentanyl-related substances on the supply of such substances to the US, including by China; and

• Recommend best practices for accurate, swift, and permanent control of fentanyl-related substances, including:

• How to quickly remove from the schedules under the Controlled Substances Act substances that are determined to have no abuse potential; and

• How to reschedule substances that are determined to have a low abuse potential or potential accepted medical use.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text