Harm Reduction Victories in Raleigh

We just got some great news from our friends at the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition! Here's the email: _____ You Advocated, Your House Members Listened! NC Republicans Introduce Needlestick Prevention Bill to Improve Law Enforcement and Community Health

Dear NCHRC Members, We wanted to share this exciting news with you! The same week that the Good Samaritan/Naloxone Access bill was signed into law, Republican legislators introduced more harm reduction legislation - House Bill 850 (HB850),  "Possession of Needles, Tell Law Officer."  HB850 aims to decriminalize the possession of syringes and other sharps if a person declares them to a law enforcement officer prior to search. Current law criminalizing syringes or other sharps intended for drug use provides incentives for people to not tell the officer of their possession when being searched by an officer and leads to high incidents of needle-sticks among law enforcement. Currently, one in three officers will get stuck by a syringe or "sharp" during their careers and 28% will suffer multiple sticks. In an effort to encourage honest conversation between a person carrying a syringe and law enforcement and reduce injury and disease exposure, HB850 would decriminalize the possession of syringes and other "sharps" if they are declared to an officer prior to search. The bill applies to syringes and other sharp objects on the suspects' person, in pockets, in a vehicle, or on the premises. HB850 is being introduced by a team of Republican legislators. Current primary sponsors are Rep McNeill and Rep Faircloth, both retired law enforcement officers, and Representative Hardister, and Dollar. The bill currently has 15 co-sponsors from both parties and will soon be debated in committee. This is an important step towards protecting law enforcement from needle-sticks and potential exposure to blood-borne disease, as well as improving community health.   What's next? 1.) Call the primary sponsors to voice your support of this important legislation and to thank them for standing up for law enforcement and community health! Rep Faircloth 919-733-5877 Rep McNeill 919-715-4946 Rep Hardister 919-733-5191 Rep Dollar 919-715-0795   Please send an email to NCHRC if you have done this by sending an email torobert.bb.childs@gmail.com 2.) Join the conversation on our social media Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/NCHarmReduction Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49624519007    In solidarity, Robert Childs NCHRC Executive Director and Tessie Castillo NCHRC Program Coordinator Bill info: http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2013&BillID=h850&submitButton=Go