Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB1828

Creates the Needle and Hypodermic Syringe Access Program Act. Provides that persons or entities that promote scientifically proven ways of mitigating health risks associated with drug use and other high-risk behaviors may establish and operate a needle and hypodermic syringe access program. Provides objectives for programs established under the Act. Includes language requiring programs to provide specified services. Provides that no employee or volunteer of or participant in a program shall be charged with or prosecuted for possession of specified substances. Provides that law enforcement officers who in good faith arrest or charge a person entitled to immunity under the Act shall not be subject to civil liability for the arrest or filing of charges. Provides that prior to commencing operations under the Act, an organization shall report specified information to the Department of Public Health. Amends the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall give preference for grants and proposals to specified drug overdose prevention programs. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall conduct an evidence-based treatment needs assessment to be submitted to the General Assembly by December 31, 2019. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Renames the Needle and Hypodermic Syringe Access Program Act the Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services' report on drug overdose trends statewide shall provide information on the current substance use disorder treatment capacity within the State. Requires the report to include an inventory of the State's substance use disorder treatment capacity. Provides that the Department may support specified drug overdose projects by facilitating the acquisition of opioid antagonist medication approved for opioid overdose reversal. Provides specified elements the Department may promote in supporting best practices in drug overdose prevention programming. Deletes provisions requiring the Department to give preference for grants to proposals that, in addition to providing life-saving interventions and responses, provide information to drug users on how to access substance use disorder treatment or other strategies for abstaining from illegal drugs. Removes provisions requiring the Department to contract with a third party research organization to conduct a needs assessment of the Illinois substance use disorder treatment system. Makes other changes. Amends the Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act. Provides that the Act shall not prohibit the sale, possession, or use of hypodermic syringes or hypodermic needles by a staff person, volunteer, or participant in a needle or hypodermic syringe access program. Effective immediately.

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