HB 2625 Summary

• Authorizes cities, towns, counties, and nongovernmental organizations to establish overdose and disease prevention programs to reduce viral hepatitis, HIV, bloodborne diseases, and needle-stick injuries.

• Requires programs to provide free needles and syringes in sufficient quantities to prevent sharing or reuse, disposal of used needles, naloxone/opioid antagonist access or referrals, and educational materials on overdose prevention and substance use disorder treatment.

• Programs must offer personal consultations from employees or volunteers regarding mental health or substance use disorder treatment and referrals for evidence-based treatment.

• Programs must develop distribution and disposal standards based on scientific evidence requiring that needles and syringes disposed of equals or exceeds the number distributed.

• Grants immunity from prosecution under drug possession laws to program employees, volunteers, and participants for possessing needles, syringes, or residual controlled substances obtained through or returned to an approved program.