2019 -- H 5545

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LC001344

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - HARM REDUCTION CENTER ADVISORY

COMMITTEE AND PILOT PROGRAM

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Slater, and Diaz

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 12.10

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HARM REDUCTION CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PILOT PROGRAM

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     23-12.10-1. Purpose and creation.

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     (a) The purpose of this chapter is to authorize a pilot program to prevent drug overdoses

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through the establishment of harm reduction centers, which are locations where persons may

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safely consume pre-obtained controlled substances.

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     (b) Each harm reduction center shall provide the necessary health care professionals to

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prevent overdose, and shall provide referrals for counseling or other medical treatment that may

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be appropriate for persons utilizing the harm reduction center.

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     (c) The director of the department of health shall promulgate regulations to authorize the

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program established by this section. Nothing contained in this section authorizes a harm reduction

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center without approval of the municipality in which the center is proposed.

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     23-12.10-2. Establishment of advisory committee.

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     There is hereby established an advisory committee to advise the director of the

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department of health with respect to the regulations necessary to effectuate the purpose of this

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chapter. The advisory committee shall be chaired by the director of the department of health, or

 

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the director designee, and consist of eight (8) additional members: one member from the Rhode

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Island medical society; one member from the hospital association of Rhode Island; one member

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from the Rhode Island chapter of the American Society of addiction medicine; and five (5)

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members approved by the governor, one of whom shall be a person with a substance abuse

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disorder; one of whom shall be a person working in overdose prevention; one of whom shall be a

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current or former law enforcement official; one of whom shall be a representative of the Rhode

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Island League of Cities and Towns; and one of whom shall be a family member of a person who

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suffered a fatal drug overdose.

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     23-12.10-3. Role of advisory committee.

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     (a) The advisory committee shall make recommendations to the director of the

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department to health with respect to the following:

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     (1) Maximizing the potential public health and safety benefits of harm reduction centers;

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     (2) The proper disposal of hypodermic needles and syringes;

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     (3) The recovery of persons utilizing such harm reduction centers;

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     (4) Federal, state and local laws impacting the creation and operation of the harm

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reduction centers;

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     (5) Appropriate guidance to relevant professional licensing boards;

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     (6) Potential collaboration with other public health efforts; and

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     (7) Consideration of any other factors beneficial to promoting the public health and

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safety.

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     23-12.10-4. Promulgation of regulations.

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     The director of the department of health shall promulgate regulations authorized by this

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chapter no later than January 1, 2020, and such regulations shall be transmitted to the general

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assembly.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - HARM REDUCTION CENTER ADVISORY

COMMITTEE AND PILOT PROGRAM

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     This act would create a pilot program to harm reduction centers, facilities wherein

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persons may use pre-obtained controlled substances under the supervision of health care

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professionals. The director of the department of health, with the advice of an advisory committee,

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would promulgate regulations on or before January 1, 2020 with respect to this act.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001344

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