Date: 04/26/2010

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB10-189

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-189 to the CommitteePASS



01:34 PM -- Senate Bill 10-189

Representative Weissman presented Senate Bill 10-189 which authorizes a county board of health or a district board of health to approve a clean syringe exchange program. The bill delineates the requirements that each clean syringe exchange program must meet.

01:36 PM -- Jeff Zayach, representing Boulder County Public Health Department, Public Health Directors of Colorado, the Boulder County Commissioners, and the Boulder County AIDS Project, spoke in support of the bill. He stated that syringe programs reduce disease and do not increase drug use. Mr. Zayach provided several statistics regarding drug use and the number of individuals affected with Hepatitis C and AIDS through syringe use. He stated that the Boulder County Public Health Department exchanged over 40,000 syringes in the last year. In response to Representative Kerr's question, Mr. Zayach responded that the bill is necessary to address an important public health issue across the state.

01:45 PM -- Andrew McClure, Urban Peak and member of Denver's Drug Strategy Commission, testified in support of the bill. Mr. McClure relayed a personal story regarding his former drug use. He stated that the bill addresses a serious public health issue. In responding to Representative Roberts' question, Mr. McClure explained the logistics behind how an injection drug user would access a clean needle exchange. He spoke to the educational opportunities that needle exchange programs offer injection drug users.

01:58 PM -- Stan Garnett, District Attorney, Boulder County District Attorney's Office, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Garnett stated that after taking office, he met with the Boulder County police chiefs. He stated that the police chiefs unanimously supported continuing Boulder's needle exchange program. He commented that the needle exchange program has reduced the number of infected needles left in the community. He concurred with previous testimony that needle exchange programs improve public health and pubic safety. He stated that by placing the bill in statute, it could encourage other public health departments and police departments to implement a clean needle exchange program. Representative Roberts asked whether the program advocates drug use. Mr. Garnett stated that the bill was drafted narrowly and that the bill states that the public health workers who provide clean needles will not be prosecuted for participating in a clean needle exchange program. He commented that the program sends a clear message of education.

02:12 PM -- Dr. Chris Urbina, Director, Denver Public Health, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Mark Thrun, Denver Public Health, spoke to the number of drug users in Colorado, stating that there are approximately 10,000 to 15,000 drug users in Colorado. He provided several statistics regarding how many individual drug users are positive for Hepatitis C and AIDS. He spoke to several educational campaigns that were directed at educating injection drug users and reducing communicable diseases. Dr. Thrun responded to Representative Roberts' question about the reason why Denver Public Health has not implemented a clean needle exchange program by stating that they have wanted to implement a program for years, but have not without some type of support from the General Assembly. He stated that Denver city ordinance states that the county could implement a program in accordance with a state law if one was ever passed.

02:23 PM -- Dr. Ned Calonge, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, spoke in support of the bill. He stated that the bill allow for local control. He indicated that clean needle exchange programs can increase public safety because of the reduced number infected syringes in the community. He spoke to other needle exchange programs that have decreased communicable diseases and decreased drug abuse. He stated that the Boulder needle exchange program will continue to operate whether the bill is passed or not and that is based on the relationship the Boulder district attorney has fostered with the police department and the community. He commented that the bill may have an effect on the injection drug user culture. Dr. Calonge spoke to how local public health departments can chose whether to implement a clean needle exchange program. There was discussion regarding whether a community could reject implementation of a clean needle exchange program under the bill. Dr. Calonge stated that the bill allows local communities to make a determination to implement a needle exchange program.

02:45 PM -- Nancy Steinfurth, Hep C Connection, spoke in support of the bill. She described the Hep C Connection to the committee. Ms. Steinfurth provided several statistics to the committee regarding the number of drug users with Hepatitis C and AIDS, the number of drug users participating in a needle exchange program, and the effectiveness of the programs in reducing communicable diseases.

02:48 PM -- Dr. Robert Brockmann, representing Colorado Academy of Family Physicians and Colorado Medical Society, testified in support of the bill. He concurred with previously testimony that stated that clean needle exchange programs reduce communicable diseases within the community.

02:52 PM -- Mindy Barton, Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Center, spoke in support of the bill. She stated that the bill addresses a public health issue.

02:53 PM -- Drew Rindfleisch, Policy Director, Voices for Justice, testified in support of the bill.

02:58 PM -- Pamela Clifton, Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, testified in support of the bill. She relayed her personal story about how she contracted Hepatitis C. She stated that the bill gives people a chance to save lives.

03:02 PM -- Lisa Raville, Harm Reduction Action Center and Colorado Organizations Responding to AIDS, spoke in support of the bill. She spoke to how the bill will protect police officers and sanitation workers by reducing the number of infected needles in the community. She stated that the Harm Reduction Action Center safely removed 26,000 syringes last year.

03:05 PM

Representative Weissman provided concluding remarks. He stated that there is evidence that needle exchange programs are effective in reducing communicable diseases and reducing drug addiction.

BILL:SB10-189
TIME: 03:10:04 PM
MOVED:Gagliardi
MOTION:Moved to refer Senate Bill 10-189 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 11-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:Kefalas
VOTE
Acree
Yes
Apuan
Yes
Gerou
Yes
Kefalas
Yes
Kerr J.
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Roberts
Yes
Swalm
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Gagliardi
Yes
Riesberg
Yes
Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




03:11 PM

The committee took a brief recess.