An Act To Address the Opioid Crisis through Evidence-based Public Health Policy
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §1110, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2001, c. 383, §132 and affected by §156, is repealed.
Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §1110, sub-§1-B, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 383, §133 and affected by §156, is repealed.
Sec. 3. 17-A MRSA §1110, sub-§1-C, as amended by PL 2007, c. 695, Pt. A, §20, is repealed.
Sec. 4. 17-A MRSA §1111, as amended by PL 2007, c. 346, Pt. B, §4, is repealed.
Sec. 5. 17-A MRSA §1111-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 266, is amended to read:
Sec. 6. 17-A MRSA §1301, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2011, c. 464, §22, is further amended to read:
Sec. 7. 22 MRSA §1341, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 507, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. 8. 22 MRSA §1341, sub-§2, ¶D, as amended by PL 2015, c. 507, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
(1) The dangers associated with the use of used hypodermic apparatuses;
(2) Safer drug use; and
(3) Overdose prevention;
Sec. 9. 22 MRSA §1341, sub-§2, ¶¶E and F, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 507, §1, are amended to read:
(1) Provide for the distribution of naloxone hydrochloride;
(2) Perform testing for HIV, AIDS and hepatitis C;
(3) Are directed by a board that includes members with a history of drug use or that establish and maintain a client advisory board; and
(4) Maintain referral agreements with or have the capacity to provide:
(a) Psychosocial counseling services that are informed by the recognition of trauma;
(b) Medication-assisted substance use treatment services; and
(c) Infectious disease care;
Sec. 10. 22 MRSA §1341, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 507, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 11. 22 MRSA §2383-B, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2015, c. 27, §1, is further amended to read:
Sec. 12. 32 MRSA §13787-A, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. A, §39, is repealed.
summary
This bill expands the scope and capabilities of hypodermic apparatus exchange programs certified by the Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This bill requires the center to adopt rules that:
1. Allow the programs to distribute naloxone hydrochloride and other safer drug use supplies; and
2. Expand the criteria a program must meet in order to be awarded funds, including distributing naloxone hydrochloride and other safer drug use supplies; providing HIV, AIDS and hepatitis C testing; and maintaining referral agreements or having the capacity to provide counseling services, medication-assisted treatment services and infectious disease care.
The center is also required to consider geographic distribution of services provided by a program when allocating funding.
This bill also amends the Maine Criminal Code to remove the crimes of furnishing hypodermic apparatuses and illegal possession of hypodermic apparatuses and makes changes to other statutes to reflect that decriminalization.