By Maxey H.B. No. 288 77R1496 MCK-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to authorizing harm reduction programs to reduce the risk 1-3 of HIV infection, AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 85, Health and Safety Code, is amended by 1-6 adding Subchapter H to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER H. HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THE RISK 1-8 OF HIV, AIDS, AND HEPATITIS B AND C 1-9 Sec. 85.161. HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMS. (a) A local health 1-10 authority or other organization with the approval of the local 1-11 governmental entity may establish a harm reduction program. 1-12 (b) A program authorized by this subchapter must: 1-13 (1) be incorporated into existing AIDS, hepatitis B, 1-14 and hepatitis C prevention and outreach programs; 1-15 (2) provide free and anonymous exchange of used 1-16 needles and syringes for an equal number of new needles and 1-17 syringes; 1-18 (3) offer education on the transmission and prevention 1-19 of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C; 1-20 (4) assist program participants in obtaining drug 1-21 treatment services and other health-related services; and 1-22 (5) provide materials to promote safe health-related 1-23 practices, including use of bleach and sterile cotton. 1-24 (c) A program authorized by this subchapter may offer 2-1 referrals or services for other health-related issues, including 2-2 sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis testing, and general 2-3 health care. 2-4 Sec. 85.162. DISTRIBUTION OF NEEDLES AND SYRINGES TO 2-5 PROGRAM. A person licensed as a wholesale drug distributor or 2-6 device distributor under Chapter 431 may distribute needles and 2-7 syringes to a harm reduction program authorized by this subchapter. 2-8 Sec. 85.163. HANDLING OF NEEDLES AND SYRINGES. (a) The 2-9 operator of a harm reduction program shall store needles and 2-10 syringes in a proper and safe manner. Only authorized employees or 2-11 volunteers of the harm reduction program may have access to the 2-12 needles and syringes. Program clients may obtain needles and 2-13 syringes only from an authorized employee or volunteer. 2-14 (b) The operator of a harm reduction program shall store and 2-15 dispose of used needles and syringes in accordance with board rule. 2-16 SECTION 2. Section 481.125, Health and Safety Code, is 2-17 amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: 2-18 (g) It is an exception to the application of Subsections (a) 2-19 and (b) that the person uses, possesses, delivers, or manufactures 2-20 needles or syringes that are delivered or are to be delivered 2-21 through a harm reduction program established under Subchapter H, 2-22 Chapter 85. 2-23 SECTION 3. (a) The purpose of this Act is to authorize harm 2-24 reduction programs to combat the spread of infectious and 2-25 communicable diseases, including HIV, AIDS, hepatitis B, and 2-26 hepatitis C. 2-27 (b) The legislature declares that it is in the public 3-1 interest to break the deadly connection between the use of drugs by 3-2 injection and HIV infection, AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C by 3-3 allowing legal access to clean needles and syringes in a 3-4 comprehensive effort to reduce the spread of HIV infection, AIDS, 3-5 hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. 3-6 SECTION 4. The Texas Department of Health shall enter into a 3-7 memorandum of understanding with each community-based organization 3-8 providing a harm reduction program to provide information to the 3-9 department on the effectiveness of the program. The Texas 3-10 Department of Health shall submit a report to the legislature 3-11 evaluating the effectiveness of Subchapter H, Chapter 85, Health 3-12 and Safety Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 31, 3-13 2005. A local health authority or other organization conducting a 3-14 harm reduction program under that subchapter shall assist the 3-15 department in preparing the report. This section expires July 1, 3-16 2005. 3-17 SECTION 5. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 3-18 (b) The change to Section 481.125, Health and Safety Code, 3-19 made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after 3-20 the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this section, an 3-21 offense is committed before the effective date of this Act if any 3-22 element of the offense occurs before the effective date.