SB 1650 Summary

• Authorizes the Department of Health to approve entities (community organizations, hospitals, clinics, health centers) to operate safer consumption services programs for reducing infectious disease spread and overdose deaths.

• Approved programs must provide hygienic consumption spaces, trained staff monitoring, sterile injection supplies, overdose prevention education in multiple languages, naloxone access, referrals to treatment and social services, and confidentiality protections using anonymous identifiers.

• Department must approve or deny applications within 45 days and provide written explanation for denials; denied entities may reapply, and approved programs must submit annual reports by January 1 detailing participant numbers, demographics, needle distribution, overdose incidents, and service referrals.

• Grants criminal and civil immunity to program participants, staff, administrators, and property owners for activities solely related to their approved program participation, excluding immunity for unauthorized activities.

• Takes effect July 1, 2023.