Bill Text: CA AB186 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Enrolled

California Assembly Bill 186 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Controlled substances: overdose prevention program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2018-09-30 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB186 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB186-Enrolled.html

Enrolled August 29, 2018

Passed IN Senate August 21, 2018

Passed IN Assembly August 27, 2018

Amended IN Senate August 16, 2018

Amended IN Senate September 08, 2017

Amended IN Senate July 13, 2017

Amended IN Assembly March 23, 2017

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 186

Introduced by Assembly Member Eggman
(Principal coauthor: Senator Wiener)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Friedman)
(Coauthor: Senator Lara)

January 19, 2017

An act to add and repeal Section 11376.6 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to controlled substances.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 186, Eggman. Controlled substances: overdose prevention program.

Existing law makes it a crime to possess specified controlled substances or paraphernalia. Existing law makes it a crime to use or be under the influence of specified controlled substances. Existing law additionally makes it a crime to visit or be in any room where specified controlled substances are being unlawfully used with knowledge that the activity is occurring, or to open or maintain a place for the purpose of giving away or using specified controlled substances. Existing law makes it a crime for a person to rent, lease, or make available for use any building or room for the purpose of storing or distributing any controlled substance. Existing law authorizes forfeiture of property used for specified crimes involving controlled substances.

This bill would, until January 1, 2022, authorize the City and County of San Francisco to approve entities to operate overdose prevention programs for adults that satisfies specified requirements, including, among other things, a hygienic space supervised by health care professionals, as defined, where people who use drugs can consume preobtained drugs, sterile consumption supplies, and access to referrals to substance use disorder treatment. The bill would require any entity operating a program under its provisions to provide an annual report to the city and county, as specified. The bill would exempt a person from existing criminal sanctions solely for actions or conduct on the site of a safer drug consumption services program for adults authorized by the city and county.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City and County of San Francisco.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 11376.6 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

11376.6.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the City and County of San Francisco may approve entities to establish and operate overdose prevention programs for persons 18 years of age or older that satisfy the requirements set forth in subdivision (c).

(b) Prior to approving an entity pursuant to subdivision (a), the city and county shall provide local law enforcement officials, local public health officials, and the public with an opportunity to comment in a public meeting. The notice of the meeting to the public shall be sufficient to ensure adequate participation in the meeting by the public. The meetings shall be noticed in accordance with all state laws and local ordinances, and as local officials deem appropriate.

(c) In order for an entity to be approved to operate an overdose prevention program pursuant to this section, the entity shall demonstrate that it will, at a minimum:

(1) Provide a hygienic space supervised by health care professionals where people who use drugs can consume preobtained drugs. For purposes of this paragraph, “health care professional” includes, but is not limited to, a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, licensed vocational nurse, registered nurse, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional clinical counselor, mental health provider, social service provider, or substance use disorder provider, trained in overdose recognition and reversal pursuant to Section 1714.22 of the Civil Code.

(2) Provide sterile consumption supplies, collect used hypodermic needles and syringes, and provide secure hypodermic needle and syringe disposal services.

(3) Administer first aid, if needed, monitor participants for potential overdose, and provide treatment as necessary to prevent fatal overdose.

(4) Provide access or referrals to substance use disorder treatment services, medical services, mental health services, and social services.

(5) Educate participants on the risks of contracting HIV and viral hepatitis.

(6) Provide overdose prevention education and access to or referrals to obtain naloxone hydrochloride or another overdose reversal medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

(7) Educate participants regarding proper disposal of hypodermic needles and syringes.

(8) Provide reasonable security of the program site.

(9) Establish operating procedures for the program, made available to the public either through an Internet Web site or upon request, that are publicly noticed, including, but not limited to, standard hours of operation, a minimum number of personnel required to be onsite during those hours of operation, the licensing and training standards for staff present, an established maximum number of individuals who can be served at one time, and an established relationship with the nearest emergency department of a general acute care hospital, as well as eligibility criteria for program participants.

(10) Train staff members to deliver services offered by the program.

(11) Establish a good neighbor policy that facilitates communication from and to local businesses and residences, to the extent they exist, to address any neighborhood concerns and complaints.

(12) Establish a policy for informing local government officials and neighbors about the approved entity’s complaint procedures, and the contact number of the director, manager, or operator of the approved entity.

(d) An entity operating an overdose prevention program under this section shall provide an annual report to the city and county that shall include:

(1) The number of program participants.

(2) Aggregate information regarding the characteristics of program participants.

(3) The number of hypodermic needles and syringes distributed for use onsite.

(4) The number of overdoses experienced and the number of overdoses reversed onsite.

(5) The number of persons referred to drug treatment.

(6) The number of individuals directly and formally referred to other services and the type of service.

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, a person or entity, including, but not limited to, property owners, managers, employees, volunteers, and clients or participants, shall not be arrested, charged, or prosecuted pursuant to Section 11350, 11364, 11365, 11366, 11366.5, or 11377, or subdivision (a) of Section 11550, including for attempt, aiding and abetting, or conspiracy to commit a violation of any of those sections, or have his or her property subject to forfeiture, or otherwise be penalized solely for actions or conduct on the site of an overdose prevention program approved by the City and County of San Francisco pursuant to subdivision (a).

(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 2.

The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique size and need of the City and County of San Francisco.