88R3641 KKR-F
 
  By: Moody H.B. No. 1403
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment by certain counties and hospital
  districts of disease control pilot programs to reduce the risk of
  certain infectious and communicable diseases; authorizing fees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act shall be cited as the Honorable Ruth
  Jones McClendon Act.
         SECTION 2.  The legislature finds that because drug abuse
  has been a tragedy for many Texas families, providing individuals
  who are addicted to drugs with education about and treatment for
  addiction is imperative. Cooperation with community-based and
  faith-based organizations creates a network of support for Texas
  families and the opportunity to intervene in drug addiction.
  Members of community-based and faith-based organizations have a
  strong desire to compassionately preserve lives and help those
  stricken with disease and drug addiction.
         Allowing the operation of disease control pilot programs will
  reduce the transmission of blood-borne diseases, including
  HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, and provide program
  participants with referrals to appropriate health and social
  services. A pilot program established under this Act may provide
  necessary access to primary health care, ensure safe and sterile
  disposal of used syringes and needles, and protect the public
  health. Pilot program goals may include reduced rates of
  intravenous drug use and a reduced number of injuries to innocent
  victims, first responders, and law enforcement caused by needle
  sticks from improperly disposed needles. Additionally, it is the
  intent of the legislature for a pilot program to increase access to
  substance abuse treatment services, increase the likelihood of
  successful treatments for addiction, and protect the public health
  and safety.
         SECTION 3.  Section 531.0972, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 531.0972.  PILOT PROGRAM TO PREVENT [THE] SPREAD OF
  CERTAIN INFECTIOUS AND [OR] COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. The commission
  may provide guidance to the counties and hospital districts in
  those counties that establish [local health authority of Bexar
  County in establishing] a disease control pilot program under
  Subchapter K, Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, [funded by the
  county] to prevent the spread of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and
  other infectious and communicable diseases. Each [The] program may
  include a disease control outreach strategy [program] that provides
  for the anonymous exchange of used hypodermic needles and syringes.
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER K. PILOT PROGRAMS TO REDUCE RISK OF CERTAIN INFECTIOUS
  AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
         Sec. 81.501.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter
  applies only to Bexar, Dallas, El Paso, Harris, Nueces, Travis, and
  Webb Counties and hospital districts in those counties.
         Sec. 81.502.  DISEASE CONTROL PILOT PROGRAM. (a) A county
  or hospital district may establish a disease control pilot program
  under this subchapter to prevent the spread of infectious and
  communicable diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
  The pilot program may include disease control outreach strategies
  to:
               (1)  provide for the anonymous exchange of used
  hypodermic needles and syringes for an equal number of new
  hypodermic needles and syringes;
               (2)  offer education on the transmission and prevention
  of infectious and communicable diseases, including HIV, hepatitis
  B, and hepatitis C; and
               (3)  assist program participants in obtaining health
  care and other physical and mental health-related services,
  including substance abuse treatment services and blood-borne
  disease testing.
         (b)  A county or hospital district may register an
  organization to operate the disease control pilot program and
  distribute hypodermic needles and syringes to control the spread of
  certain infectious and blood-borne communicable diseases. The
  county or hospital district may charge the organization a
  registration fee in an amount reasonable and necessary to cover the
  costs of registration oversight, including coordination with law
  enforcement personnel.
         (c)  A registered organization may charge a program
  participant a fee for each hypodermic needle or syringe used in the
  program not to exceed 150 percent of the actual cost to the
  organization of the hypodermic needle or syringe.
         (d)  A registered organization shall annually provide to the
  department and the county or hospital district that registered the
  organization information on:
               (1)  the effectiveness of the disease control pilot
  program;
               (2)  the program's impact on reducing the spread of
  infectious and communicable diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B,
  and hepatitis C; and
               (3)  the program's effect on injected drug use by
  individuals residing within the county or hospital district.
         Sec. 81.503.  DISTRIBUTION OF NEEDLES AND SYRINGES TO PILOT
  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 pilot program authorized
  by this subchapter.
         Sec. 81.504.  HANDLING OF NEEDLES AND SYRINGES. An
  organization registered as provided by Section 81.502:
               (1)  shall store hypodermic needles and syringes in a
  proper and secure manner and allow only authorized employees or
  volunteers of the organization's disease control pilot program to
  access the hypodermic needles and syringes;
               (2)  may include hypodermic needles and syringes in
  packaged safe kits made available to program participants through
  the program;
               (3)  may provide hypodermic needles and syringes and
  safe kits to program participants only through an authorized
  employee or volunteer of the program; and
               (4)  shall store and dispose of used hypodermic needles
  and syringes in accordance with applicable state laws and
  administrative rules governing the safe and proper disposal of
  medical waste.
         Sec. 81.505.  FUNDING. Except to the extent specifically
  prohibited by law, an organization registered to operate a disease
  control pilot program as provided by Section 81.502 may solicit or
  accept gifts, grants, or donations to fund the program.
         Sec. 81.506.  EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September
  1, 2033.
         SECTION 5.  Section 481.125, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsections (j), (k), (l), and (m) to read as
  follows:
         (j)  Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who
  possesses or delivers a hypodermic needle or syringe for a medical
  purpose. For the purposes of this subsection, "medical purpose"
  includes the exchange of a hypodermic needle or syringe for a used
  hypodermic needle or syringe in a disease control pilot program
  described by Subchapter K, Chapter 81.
         (k)  Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who
  possesses or manufactures hypodermic needles or syringes for
  delivery to a disease control pilot program described by Subchapter
  K, Chapter 81.
         (l)  Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who is
  an employee, volunteer, duly authorized agent, or program
  participant of a disease control pilot program described by
  Subchapter K, Chapter 81, and uses, possesses, or delivers a
  hypodermic needle or syringe as part of the program.
         (m)  This subsection and Subsections (j), (k), and (l) expire
  September 1, 2033. 
         SECTION 6.  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. An offense committed before
  the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when
  the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect
  for that purpose. 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.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.