CHAPTER 259
HB 1502-FN – FINAL VERSION
12Mar2008… 0748h
05/01/08 1609s
04Jun2008… 1976cofc
2008 SESSION
08/03
HOUSE BILL 1502-FN
AN ACT establishing a commission to develop alternatives to the disposal of medical sharps in household waste.
SPONSORS: Rep. Knox, Carr 4; Rep. Snow, Rock 1; Rep. Powers, Rock 16
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
This bill establishes a commission to develop alternatives to the disposal of medical sharps in household waste.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12Mar2008… 0748h
05/01/08 1609s
04Jun2008… 1976cofc
08-2276
08/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT establishing a commission to develop alternatives to the disposal of medical sharps in household waste.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
259:1 Findings. The general court finds that:
I. Each year, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, more than 3,000,000,000 medical sharps are used by individuals in their homes.
II. Typically, these medical sharps are put into the household trash, where they become a health hazard for other members of the household and for sanitation workers.
III. The hazard includes not only the discomfort of a needle-stick injury, but also the risk of contracting an infectious disease from a contaminated medical sharp.
IV. Regulating the disposal of home-generated medical sharps will further the public health and safety of New Hampshire residents.
259:2 Commission Established. There is established a commission to develop alternatives to the disposal of medical sharps in household waste.
259:3 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:
(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(e) A representative of the National Solid Wastes Management Association, appointed by such organization.
(f) A representative of sharps manufacturers, appointed by the governor.
(g) A representative of the Coalition of New Hampshire Chain Pharmacies, appointed by such organization.
(h) A representative of the New Hampshire Independent Pharmacy Association, appointed by such association.
(i) A representative of the New Hampshire Municipal Association, appointed by such organization.
(j) A representative of the New Hampshire Association of Diabetes Educators, appointed by such association.
(k) A representative of the New Hampshire Medical Society, appointed by such society.
(l) A representative of the sharps disposal industry, appointed by the governor.
(m) A representative of the Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal, appointed by such organization.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
259:4 Duties. The commission shall study and recommend program options for the collection and disposal of home-generated medical sharps. The program recommendations shall be designed to protect the public health and the environment by providing for the safe, secure, and accessible collection and disposal of hypodermic needles and lancets, and shall include a timeframe for banning the disposal of home-generated medical sharps from municipal solid waste. The commission shall maintain liaison with the Product Stewardship Institute sharps policy workgroup.
259:5 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
259:6 Report. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before April 1, 2009.
259:7 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: June 26, 2008
Effective Date: June 26, 2008