Furnishing hypodermic needles and syringes.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Business and Professions
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill expands the ability for physicians and pharmacists to provide hypodermic needles and syringes to individuals 18 and older without a prescription, citing public health concerns related to preventing the spread of bloodborne diseases. It also allows delegees of these professionals to fulfill this function. The bill directs the California Workforce Development Board to study ways to increase the number of mental health service providers serving homeless populations.
Key provisions
- Allows physicians and pharmacists (and their delegees) to furnish hypodermic needles and syringes without a prescription for personal use.
- Authorizes individuals 18 and older to obtain needles and syringes without a prescription.
- Requires pharmacies to provide safe disposal options for needles and syringes, including onsite collection programs, mail-back containers, or sharps containers.
- Mandates pharmacies to provide written information or verbal counseling on accessing drug treatment, HIV/hepatitis testing, and safe sharps disposal.
- Directs the California Workforce Development Board to study expanding the mental health workforce serving homeless individuals.
- Clarifies that a violation of the Pharmacy Law related to this provision is a misdemeanor or infraction.
- Expands the scope of a crime to include delegees of physicians and pharmacists.
Who is affected
Bill text
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Sponsors
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1 on record
Primary sponsor
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