26:5C-29 Reports to Governor, Legislature.
5. a. (1) The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services shall report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, 164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, no later than one year after the effective date of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-25 et seq.) and biennially thereafter, on the status of sterile syringe access programs established pursuant to sections 3 and 4 of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-27 and C.26:5C-28), and shall include in that report the data provided to the commissioner by each sterile syringe access program pursuant to paragraph (11) of subsection b. of section 4 of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-28).
(2)For the purpose of each biennial report pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, the commissioner shall:
(a)consult with local law enforcement authorities regarding the impact of the sterile syringe access programs on the rate and volume of crime in the affected municipalities and include that information in the report; and
(b)seek to obtain data from public safety and emergency medical services providers Statewide regarding the incidence and location of needle stick injuries to their personnel and include that information in the report.
b.The commissioner shall report to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, no later than six months after the date that the initial sterile syringe access program, which is approved by the commissioner pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-27), commences its operations, and shall include in that report:
(1)an assessment of whether an adequate number of drug abuse treatment program slots is available to meet the treatment needs of persons who have been referred to drug abuse treatment programs by sterile syringe access programs pursuant to paragraph (4) of subsection b. of section 4 of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-28); and
(2)a recommendation for such appropriation as the commissioner determines necessary to ensure the provision of an adequate number of drug abuse treatment program slots for those persons.
c.The commissioner shall contract with an entity that is independent of the department to prepare a detailed analysis of the sterile syringe access programs, and to report on the results of that analysis to the Governor, the Governor's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and Related Blood-Borne Pathogens, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, no later than 24 months after the adoption of regulations required pursuant to subsection b. of section 7 of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-31) and annually thereafter. The analysis shall include, but not be limited to:
(1)any increase or decrease in the spread of HIV, hepatitis C and other blood-borne pathogens that may be transmitted by the use of contaminated syringes and needles;
(2)the number of exchanged syringes and needles and an evaluation of the disposal of syringes and needles that are not returned by consumers;
(3)the number of consumers participating in the sterile syringe access programs and an assessment of their reasons for participating in the programs;
(4)the number of consumers in the sterile syringe access programs who participated in drug abuse treatment programs; and
(5)the number of consumers in the sterile syringe access programs who benefited from counseling and referrals to programs and entities that are relevant to their health, housing, social service, employment and other needs.
d.Within 90 days after receipt of the third report pursuant to subsection c. of this section, the commissioner shall submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature, on a day when both Houses of the Legislature are meeting in the course of a regular or special session, the commissioner's recommendations regarding whether or not to continue the demonstration program established pursuant to this act. The commissioner's recommendations shall be effective unless the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution overriding the commissioner's recommendations no later than the 45th day after its receipt of those recommendations.
L.2006, c.99, s.5; amended 2015, c.10, s.6.
Section: Previous 26-5c-22 26-5c-23 26-5c-24 26-5c-25 26-5c-26 26-5c-27 26-5c-28 26-5c-29 26-5c-30 26-5c-31 26-5d-1 26-5d-2 26-5d-3 26-5d-4 26-6-1 Next
Last modified: October 11, 2016