SB 1250 Summary

• Authorizes cities, towns, counties, and nonprofit organizations to establish overdose and disease prevention programs to reduce bloodborne disease transmission, needle-stick injuries, and encourage substance use disorder treatment.

• Programs must provide free needles and syringes in sufficient quantities to prevent sharing, disposal services for used needles, naloxone/opioid antagonist access, and educational materials on overdose prevention, HIV/hepatitis prevention, mental health treatment, and substance use disorder treatment.

• Programs must offer personal consultations and referrals to evidence-based substance use disorder treatment for individuals requesting services.

• Requires programs to develop needle and syringe distribution and disposal standards based on scientific evidence and best practices, with disposal amounts at least equivalent to distribution amounts.

• Provides immunity from prosecution for program employees, volunteers, and participants possessing needles, syringes, or residual controlled substances obtained through an authorized program if they can verify participation in the program.