After further investigating the case, Lambert wanted to file negligent homicide charges. That's when he found out he couldn't.

"Those kids can watch someone die right in front of them and nothing can be done about it," he said. "There's nothing we can do to those kids that left (their friend) . . . even though they knew that kid was in dire straits."

Sill's mother, Anne Sill Maxfield, said she believed her son's friend is already punishing himself over the death and she doesn't hold ill will toward him. However, she still would like to see the bill passed.

"I wish more than anything I could just help other kids," she said. "I think my son could be alive today if someone had known how to do CPR, if they had gone down to check on him. . . . Kids are so fearful they don't know what to do. They don't want to get into trouble either. I just think it's fear (that prevents them from calling 911), that the other kids or adults don't want to get into trouble."

Coincidentally, Sill was a former student of Spackman Moss. Now, she said she hopes to drum up support for her bill among all of the state's law enforcement agencies.

"It certainly will be one of the (bills) I'll put a lot of emphasis on." she said. "If it will save even one life it will be worth it."

The bill could be used in any scenario, not just drug overdoses, where a person should be rendering aid but does not. However, Lambert said it would not target innocent people. For example, he said if a parent had a son or daughter fatally overdose in their house but were unaware of it, they would not be liable.

Furthermore, Lambert said the goal of the bill is not to punish those who abandon their friends, but to educate those people and catch their attention.

Just because a person calls 911 doesn't necessarily mean they'll get in trouble themselves for being around someone who overdoses, Lambert said. But the consequences will be far worse if they choose to abandon that person instead, and that's the message the bill is trying to send, he said.

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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com