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                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 1625

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 1320 Session of 2007


        INTRODUCED BY SIPTROTH, BELFANTI, BROOKS, CARROLL, CURRY,
           FRANKEL, GRUCELA, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA,
           LENTZ, MURT, PALLONE, PAYNE, PEIFER, PETRONE, SCHRODER,
           SOLOBAY, THOMAS, WALKO AND YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 18, 2007

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
           MAY 18, 2007

                                     AN ACT

     1  Providing for a program for the disposal of home-generated
     2     medical sharps, and for powers and duties of the Department
     3     of Environmental Protection.

     4     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     5  hereby enacts as follows:
     6  Section 1.  Short title.
     7     This act shall be known and may be cited as the Home-
     8  Generated Medical Sharps Disposal Act.
     9  Section 2.  Findings.
    10     The General Assembly finds that:
    11         (1)  Each year, according to the Environmental Protection
    12     Agency, more than three billion medical sharps are used by
    13     individuals in their homes.
    14         (2)  Typically, these medical sharps are put into the
    15     household trash, where they become a health hazard for other
    16     members of the household and for sanitation workers.
    17         (3)  The hazard includes not only the discomfort of a

     1     needle-stick injury, but also the risk of contracting an
     2     infectious disease from a contaminated medical sharp.
     3         (4)  Regulating the disposal of home-generated medical
     4     sharps will further the public health and safety of
     5     Commonwealth residents.
     6  Section 3.  Definitions.
     7     The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
     8  have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
     9  context clearly indicates otherwise:
    10     "Department."  The Department of Environmental Protection of
    11  the Commonwealth.
    12     "Home-generated medical sharp."  A sharp used by an
    13  individual at home.
    14     "Medical sharp."  A needle, syringe, lancet or other sharp
    15  object used for medical testing or for delivery of medication.
    16  Section 4.  Home-generated medical sharp disposal program.
    17     The department shall develop and implement a Statewide
    18  program for the safe, convenient and cost-effective disposal of
    19  home-generated medical sharps. The program may provide for a
    20  variety of methods of disposal, including:
    21         (1)  use of mail-back programs;
    22         (2)  community-based drop-off sites;
    23         (3)  municipal hazardous waste drop-off sites;
    24         (4)  special curbside pickup service; or
    25         (5)  home needle destruction devices.
    26  The program shall include an educational component designed to
    27  inform the public about safe disposal of home-generated medical
    28  sharps and to promote the public's use of the program for safe
    29  disposal of home-generated medical sharps.
    30  Section 5.  Development and implementation.
    20070H1320B1625                  - 2 -     

     1     The department shall develop the program within 12 months of
     2  the effective date of this section and shall implement the
     3  program within 18 months of the effective date of this section.
     4  Section 6.  Effective date.
     5     This act shall take effect in 60 days.

















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