HB444 Summary

• Establishes the Alabama Injection-Associated Infectious Disease Elimination Act to authorize the Department of Public Health and local health authorities to create injection-associated infectious disease elimination pilot programs in counties with demonstrated need for up to three years.

• Programs must provide at least: safe needle disposal, free needles and injection supplies (non-state funded), educational materials on overdose/disease prevention and treatment options, naloxone kits or referrals, personal consultations, and emergency medical care or referrals.

• Grants criminal immunity to active program participants in possession of an official certificate card from prosecution under specified drug possession and paraphernalia statutes related to obtaining or returning injection supplies through the program.

• Provides criminal and civil immunity to program officers, employees, volunteers, healthcare providers, and local health authority members for their participation in program activities, and extends state employee immunity under Alabama law.

• Requires annual reporting to the Department of Public Health on participants served, supplies dispensed, naloxone distribution, and treatment referrals provided; programs may continue beyond three years if demonstrated need persists.