PI Action alerts & updates ... 1999
Urge Governor Davis To Support AB 518
Legislation provides legal protection for local needle exchange
programs
August 4, 1999 — AB 518, introduced by Assembly Members Kerry
Mazzoni (D-Marin) and Kevin Shelley (D-San Francisco), would provide
legal protection to localities that choose to have needle exchange
programs. This bill states that these programs would only be established
in jurisdictions that choose to have them, and that they would be
designed with the input of local communities. Current state law
prohibits the distribution of syringes without a prescription. There
are over a dozen needle exchange projects in California that would
benefit from the legal protections offered by this bill.
Numerous scientific studies—including six federally-funded
reports—have concluded that needle exchange programs reduce
new HIV infections without increasing drug use. In April of 1998,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala
certified these findings.
Injection drug use is the second leading cause of HIV transmission
in California. Given the growing number of AIDS cases among injection
drug users and their sexual partners, it is crucial that needle
exchange programs be permitted in localities that wish to implement
them as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy. Needle
exchange programs also provide an important link to other vital
services, including prevention/education counseling, drug treatment,
and primary health care.
AB 518 has passed the State Assembly and is waiting to be voted
by the State Senate in mid-August. After that, the bill will be
sent to Governor Davis. It is our understanding that he is currently
reviewing the legislation, so it is very important that that we
urge the Governor to sign this bill into law!
Action Needed
Please write to Governor Davis and urge him to sign AB 518 into
law. You can use the sample letter on the back to help craft your
message.
Follow up your letter with a phone call.
Please distribute this Alert widely and ask others to take action!
Sample Letter in Support of AB 518
The Honorable Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Davis,
I am writing to urge you to sign AB 518 (Mazzoni)
into law. This bill would provide legal protection to local communities
that enact clean needle exchange projects as part of a network of
comprehensive HIV services for injection drug users. Under AB 518,
needle exchange programs would be established only in jurisdictions
that choose to enact them, and would be designed with input from
the communities in which they are established.
Insert a personal statement here. If you or someone
you know has any experience with syringe exchange programs, mention
that here. Otherwise, you might write about the importance of bold
prevention programs in your community or geographic region.
Needle exchange is one of the most effective HIV
prevention options available. These services also provide opportunities
for public health workers to offer prevention counseling and make
referrals to medical care, drug treatment programs, HIV testing,
and other treatment services. Numerous studies have shown that needle
exchange programs reduce the spread of HIV without increasing drug
use.
Injection drug use is the second leading cause of
HIV transmission among all Californians. Please help change this
course by signing AB 518 into law.
Sincerely,
Your name
Contact information:
Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-445-4633 phone
916-445-2841 fax
