HB579 By Representative Todd RFD Health Rd 1 30-APR-15

SYNOPSIS: This bill would authorize the Alabama Department of Public Health to establish a needle and syringe exchange program and would allow the department to establish local programs through local health departments or other local organizations.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT

Relating to public health; to authorize the Alabama Department of Public Health to establish a needle and syringe exchange program under certain conditions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:

Section 1. (a) The Alabama Department of Public Health shall establish a needle and syringe exchange program and may authorize local programs through local health departments or other local organizations.

(b) The program shall do all of the following:

(1) Be incorporated into any existing human immunodeficiency virus prevention programs.

(2) Provide for free and confidential exchanges of needles and syringes.

(3) Provide participants with an equal number of needles and syringes for those returned.

(4) Provide first-time applicants with an initial packet of thirty needles and syringes, educational material, and a list of drug counseling services.

(5) Offer education on the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus and prevention measures.

(6) Assist program participants in obtaining drug treatment services.

(c) The department shall establish a procedure to monitor all of the following:

(1) Return rates of needles and syringes distributed.

(2) Program participation rates.

(3) The number of participants who are motivated to enter treatment as a result of the program and the status of their treatment.

(d) Any organization conducting a needle and syringe exchange program shall submit to the department a quarterly report evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

(e) A person who participates in a program authorized by this act may not be found guilty of possession of drug paraphernalia under Section 13A-12-260 of the Code of Alabama 1975, for receiving or returning needles or syringes under the program.

Section 2. This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Public Health Department

Paraphernalia

Drugs

HIV

Counseling Service