ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: HHS DP 7-1-0-0 | 3^rd Read 27-2-1-0 House: HHS DP 9-0-0-0

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SB 1250: overdose; disease prevention; programs

Sponsor:  Senator Barto, LD 15

House Engrossed

Overview

Allows specified entities to establish an overdose and disease prevention program (prevention program) and outlines prevention program objectives and requirements.

History

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), syringe service programs, also known as needle exchange programs, are disease prevention programs that can provide linkage to substance use disorder treatment, access to sterile injection equipment and proper disposal for injection equipment. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the CDC have published guidelines for the implementation of such programs.

Provisions

1. Allows a city, town, county or nongovernmental organization, including a local health department or an organization that promotes scientifically proven ways of mitigating health risks associated with drug use and other high-risk behaviors, to establish and operate a prevention program. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires a prevention program to have the following objectives:

a) Reducing the spread of viral hepatitis, HIV and other bloodborne diseases in Arizona;

b) Reducing needle-stick injuries to law enforcement officers and other emergency personnel;

c) Encouraging individuals who inject drugs to enroll in evidence-based treatment;

d) Increasing proper disposal of used syringes; and

e) Reducing the occurrence of skin and soft tissue wounds and infections related to injection drug use.  (Sec. 1)

3. Directs a prevention program to offer all of the following:

a) Disposal of used needles and hypodermic syringes;

b) Needles, hypodermic syringes and other injection supply items at no cost and in quantities sufficient to ensure that needles, hypodermic syringes and other injection supply items are not shared or reused;

c) Educational materials on:

i. Overdoes prevention;

ii. Peer support services;

iii. The prevention of HIV, viral hepatitis transmission and the incidence of skin and soft tissue wounds and infections;

iv. Treatment for mental illness, including treatment referrals; and

v. Treatment for substance use disorder, including referrals for the substance use disorder treatment;

d) Access to kits that contain naloxone hydrochloride, or any other opioid antagonist approved by the FDA to treat a drug overdose, or referrals to programs that provide access to opioid antagonists; and

e) Upon request, personal consultations from a program employee or volunteer concerning mental health or substance use disorder treatment or referrals for evidence-based substance use disorder treatment. (Sec. 1)

4. Requires a prevention program to develop standards for distributing and disposing of needles and hypodermic syringes based on scientific evidence and best practices.

5. Specifies that the number of needles and hypodermic syringes disposed of through a prevention program must be at least equivalent to the number of needles and hypodermic syringes distributed through the prevention program. (Sec. 1)

6. Grants immunity to an employee, volunteer or participant of a prevention program for possession of a needle, hypodermic syringe or other injection supply item or a residual amount of a controlled substance contained in a used needle, used hypodermic syringe or used injection supply item. (Sec. 1)

7. Specifies that person claiming immunity must provide verification that the item was obtained from or returned to a prevention program. (Sec. 1)

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11.                   SB 1250

12. Initials EB  Page 0 House Engrossed

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