CT SB00218

Expands needle and syringe exchange programs statewide to any community impacted by HIV or hepatitis C, removing restriction to three highest-infection cities, and adds hepatitis C prevention to program scope (effective October 1, 2016).

Requires needle and syringe exchange programs to provide referrals for substance abuse counseling, treatment, and medical or mental health care, and to include evaluation components tracking syringe distribution, participation rates, treatment referrals, and HIV incidence.

Modifies HIV exposure and transmission definitions to include blood transfer and injection drug use, and updates health care worker exposure protocols to require incident reports within 48 hours and baseline HIV testing within 72 hours.

Requires health care providers to inform pregnant women that HIV testing is routine prenatal care and to administer tests at admission for delivery if not previously documented, with results reported to mothers within 48 hours of birth.

Repeals sections 19a-54a, 19a-121, 19a-124a, and 19a-594 of the general statutes and updates confidentiality definitions in HIV-related statute chapter.