Report Title:

Sale of Sterile Syringes

Description:

Makes permanent the provisions of Act 292, SLH 2001, to allow the continued sale of syringes for the prevention of disease. (HB2472 CD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2472

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

H.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

C.D. 1


A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE SALE OF STERILE SYRINGES FOR THE PREVENTION OF DISEASE.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the sharing of needles by intravenous drug users is a major cause of the spread of HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and other fatal blood-borne diseases. Act 292, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001 (Act 292), authorized the sale of sterile syringes by licensed physicians, pharmacists, and other health care providers in an effort to reduce the transmission of blood-borne diseases by reducing the use of infected syringes as well as through prevention education.

Since 2002, the department of health has developed, printed, and distributed fifty-five thousand copies of "Safe Syringe Disposal Options" to local pharmacies. Syringe wholesalers have also agreed to distribute the brochures statewide. Approximately sixteen thousand syringes purchased in pharmacies have been exchanged through the sterile syringe exchange program. The program has produced results that continue to benefit the general public.

The purpose of this Act is to repeal, in part, the sunset provision of Act 292 to make permanent the sale of syringes by qualified individuals to prevent the transmission of deadly blood-borne diseases.

SECTION 2. Act 292, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, is

amended by amending section 4 to read as follows:

"SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 1 shall take effect on July 1, 2002, and section 2 shall be repealed on July 1, 2004."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 2004.