Update on Key HIV/AIDS Bills

As the 2005 legislative session comes to a close, three important HIV/AIDS related bills are making progress, but require continued community advocacy to be approved.

AB 547 (Berg) would eliminate the requirement that jurisdictions operating needle exchange programs renew a declaration of a public health emergency every two weeks. Similar bills have been vetoed twice. However, a recent amendment requiring an annual report and public hearing regarding the local exchange program appears to have  eliminated key law enforcement opposition to the bill and could lead to the Governor's signature. Please email the Governor at governor@ca.gov.  

AB 1597 (Laird) would permit authorized needle exchange programs to access state HIV prevention funds to purchase sterile syringes.  The bill was approved by the full Assembly and the Senate Health Committee, and awaits action in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  Calls to Senator Carole Migden (916-445-1412) would be helpful.

AB 1677 (Koretz) would permit the distribution of condoms in state prisons.  Approved by the full Assembly and Senate Public Safety Committee, this bill also awaits action in Senate Appropriations.  Calls to Senator Migden on this bill would also be helpful.

If these bills make it through the Legislature, it will be critical for the community to register their support with the Governor's office and urge him to sign them into law.

Unfortunately, following Assembly approval on a 72 to 6 vote, AB 283 (Koretz) was held in the Senate Business & Professions Committee.  This bill would reduce thefts of   pseudoephedrine based cold remedies by requiring them to be in locked cases in pharmacies. Pseudoephedrine is used to make methamphetamine.  Groups working to address the clear connection between methamphetamine use and HIV risk behaviors hope to revive AB 283 in the second year of the 2005-06 session.