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Amend CSHB 3485 (Senate committee printing) Section 2,
Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subchapter J to read
as follows:
Subchapter J. OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO REDUCE RISK OF CERTAIN
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Sec. 81.401. This subchapter applies only to a county with a
population of 300,000 or more.
Sec. 81.402. DISEASE CONTROL OUTREACH PROGRAMS. (a) A local
health authority or an organization that contracts with a county,
municipality, hospital district, or other local governmental
entity charged with protecting the public health may establish a
disease control outreach program that:
(1) assists outreach program participants in
obtaining health care and other physical and mental health-related
services, including substance abuse treatment services and
blood-borne disease testing;
(2) offers education on the transmission and
prevention of communicable diseases, including hepatitis C,
hepatitis B, and HIV; and
(3) provides for the anonymous exchange of used
hypodermic needles and syringes for an equal number of new
hypodermic needles and syringes.
(b) A local health authority or other organization
operating a disease control outreach program authorized by this
subchapter may charge a participant in the outreach program a fee
for each hypodermic needle or syringe used in the outreach program
not to exceed 150 percent of the actual cost of the hypodermic
needle or
syringe.
(c) A local health authority or other organization
operating a disease control outreach program authorized by this
subchapter shall annually provide the department with information
on;
(1) the effectiveness of the disease control outreach
program, including:
(A) the number of clients served by the program;
and
(B) the methods of distribution;
(2) the disease control outreach program's impact on
reducing the spread of communicable diseases, such as hepatitis C,
hepatitis B, and HIV, including:
(A) the number of syringes collected and the
number of syringes disposed of through the program;
(B) the number of referrals for testing for
communicable diseases made by the program; and
(C) a list of the facilities to which individuals
are referred by the program to receive testing described by
Paragraph (B); and
(3) the disease control outreach program's effect on
injected drug use in the area served by the local health authority,
including:
(A) the number of referrals for substance abuse
treatment made by the program;
(B) a list of facilities to which individuals are
referred by the program to receive substance abuse treatment; and
(C) other information specified by the
department.
Sec. 81.403. DISTRIBUTION OF NEEDLES AND SYRINGES TO
OUTREACH PROGRAM. A person licensed as a wholesale drug distributor
or device distributor under Chapter 431 may distribute hypodermic
needles and syringes to a disease control outreach program
authorized by this subchapter.
Sec. 81.404. HANDLING OF NEEDLES AND SYRINGES. (a) The
operator of a disease control outreach program shall store
hypodermic needles and syringes in a proper and secure manner. Only
authorized employees or volunteers of hypodermic needles and
syringes. Outreach program clients may obtain hypodermic needles
and syringes only from an authorized employee or volunteer.
(b) The operator of a disease control outreach program
authorized by this subchapter shall store and dispose of used
hypodermic needles and syringes in accordance with department rule.
SECTION 3. Section 481.125, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
(g) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsections (a) and
(b) that:
(1) the person manufactures hypodermic needles or
syringes that are delivered or are to be delivered through a disease
control outreach program established under Subchapter J, Chapter
81; or
(2) the person:
(A) uses, possesses, or delivers hypodermic
needles or syringes that are delivered through a disease control
outreach program established under Subchapter J, Chapter 81; and
(B) presents evidence showing that the person is
an employee, volunteer, or participant of the disease control
program.
(b) The change to Section 481.125, Health and Safety Code,
made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after
the effective date of this Act. For purposes of this section, an
offense is committed before the effective date of this Act if any
element of the offense occurs before the effective date.
(c) An offense committed before the effective date of this
Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.