Bill Text: CA AB186 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Controlled substances: overdose prevention program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2018-09-30 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB186 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB186-Amended.html

Amended  IN  Senate  September 08, 2017
Amended  IN  Senate  July 13, 2017
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 23, 2017

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 186


Introduced by Assembly Member Eggman
(Principal coauthor: Senator Wiener)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Friedman)
(Coauthor: Senator Lara)

January 19, 2017


An act to add and repeal Section 11376.6 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to controlled substances.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 186, as amended, Eggman. Controlled substances: safer drug consumption program.
Existing law makes it a crime to possess specified controlled substances or paraphernalia. Existing law makes it a crime to use or be under the influence of specified controlled substances. Existing law additionally makes it a crime to visit or be in any room where specified controlled substances are being unlawfully used with knowledge that the activity is occurring, or to open or maintain a place for the purpose of giving away or using specified controlled substances. Existing law makes it a crime for a person to rent, lease, or make available for use any building or room for the purpose of storing or distributing any controlled substance. Existing law authorizes forfeiture of property used for specified crimes involving controlled substances.
This bill would, until January 1, 2022, authorize specified counties or cities within those counties to authorize the operation of supervised injection services programs for adults that satisfies specified requirements, including, among other things, a hygienic space supervised by health care professionals, as defined, where people who use drugs can consume preobtained drugs, sterile consumption supplies, and access to referrals to substance use disorder treatment. The bill would require any entity operating a program under its provisions to provide an annual report to the city, county, or city and county, as specified. The bill would exempt a person from existing criminal sanctions solely for actions or conduct on the site of a safer drug consumption services program for adults authorized by a city, county, or city and county.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 11376.6 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

11376.6.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other law, upon the action of a county board of supervisors or upon the action of a city council and mayor, the Counties, or cities within the Counties, of Alameda, Fresno, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Mendocino, San Francisco, San Joaquin, and Santa Cruz and San Joaquin may approve entities to establish and operate a safer drug consumption program for persons 18 years of age or older that satisfies the requirements set forth in subdivision (b). An action by a county board of supervisors shall only pertain to the areas of the unincorporated county outside of municipal jurisdictions, and an action of a city council and mayor shall only pertain to an action within the city boundary and jurisdiction.
(b) In order for an entity to be approved to operate a safer drug consumption program pursuant to this section, the entity shall demonstrate that it will, at a minimum:
(1) Provide a hygienic space supervised by health care professionals where people who use drugs can consume preobtained drugs. For purposes of this paragraph, “health care professional” includes, but is not limited to, a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, licensed vocational nurse, registered nurse, psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional clinical counselor, mental health provider, social service provider, or substance use disorder provider, trained in overdose recognition and reversal pursuant to Section 1714.22 of the Civil Code.
(2) Provide sterile consumption supplies, collect used hypodermic needles and syringes, and provide secure hypodermic needle and syringe disposal services.
(3) Administer first aid, if needed, monitor participants for potential overdose, and provide treatment as necessary to prevent fatal overdose.
(4) Provide access or referrals to substance use disorder treatment services, medical services, mental health services, and social services.
(5) Educate participants on the risks of contracting HIV and viral hepatitis.
(6) Provide overdose prevention education and access to or referrals to obtain naloxone hydrochloride or another overdose reversal medication approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
(7) Educate participants regarding proper disposal of hypodermic needles and syringes.
(8) Provide reasonable security of the program site.
(9) Establish operating procedures for the program that are publicly noticed, including, but not limited to, standard hours of operation, a minimum number of personnel required to be onsite during those hours of operation, the licensing and training standards for staff present, an established maximum number of individuals who can be served at one time, and an established relationship with the nearest emergency department of a general acute care hospital, as well as eligibility criteria for program participants.
(10) Train staff members to deliver services offered by the program.
(11) Establish a good neighbor policy to address neighborhood concerns and complaints.
(12) Establish a policy for informing local government officials and neighbors about the approved entity’s complaint procedures, and the contact number of the director, manager, or operator of the approved entity.
(c) An entity operating a safer drug consumption program under this section shall provide an annual report to the approving city, county, or city and county at a date set by the city, county, or city and county which shall include:
(1) The number of program participants.
(2) Aggregate information regarding the characteristics of program participants.
(3) The number of hypodermic needles and syringes distributed for use onsite.
(4) The number of overdoses experienced and the number of overdoses reversed onsite.
(5) The number of individuals directly and formally referred to other services and the type of service.
(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a person or entity, including, but not limited to, property owners, managers, employees, volunteers, and clients or participants, shall not be arrested, charged, or prosecuted pursuant to Section 11350, 11364, 11365, 11366, 11366.5, or 11377, or subdivision (a) of Section 11550, including for attempt, aiding and abetting, or conspiracy to commit a violation of any of those sections, or have his or her property subject to forfeiture, or otherwise be penalized solely for actions or conduct on the site of a safer drug consumption services program approved by a city, county, or a city and county pursuant to subdivision (a).
(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.

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