THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY SIPTROTH, BELFANTI, BOBACK, BRENNAN, BROWN, CARROLL, COHEN, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DRUCKER, FRANKEL, GEORGE, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, KOTIK, MAHONEY, McILVAINE SMITH, MELIO, MILNE, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PAYNE, SCAVELLO, K. SMITH, STERN, VULAKOVICH, YOUNGBLOOD AND FABRIZIO, FEBRUARY 24, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, FEBRUARY 24, 2009  

AN ACT

Providing for a program for the disposal of home-generated

medical sharps, and for powers and duties of the Department

of Environmental Protection.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Home-

Generated Medical Sharps Disposal Act.

Section 2.  Findings.

The General Assembly finds that:

(1)  Each year, according to the Environmental Protection

Agency, more than three billion medical sharps are used by

individuals in their homes.

(2)  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.

(3)  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.

(4)  Regulating the disposal of home-generated medical

sharps will further the public health and safety of

Commonwealth residents.

Section 3.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Department."  The Department of Environmental Protection of

the Commonwealth.

"Home-generated medical sharp."  A sharp used by an

individual at home.

"Medical sharp."  A needle, syringe, lancet or other sharp

object used for medical testing or for delivery of medication.

Section 4.  Home-generated medical sharp disposal program.

(a)  Authorization.--The department shall develop and

implement a Statewide program for the safe, convenient and cost-

effective disposal of home-generated medical sharps. The program

may provide for a variety of methods of disposal, including:

(1)  use of mail-back programs;

(2)  community-based drop-off sites;

(3)  municipal hazardous waste drop-off sites;

(4)  special curbside pickup service; or

(5)  home needle destruction devices.

(b)  Public education.--The program shall include an

educational component designed to inform the public about safe

disposal of home-generated medical sharps and to promote the

public's use of the program for safe disposal of home-generated

medical sharps.

Section 5.  Development and implementation.

(a)  General rule.--Subject to the provisions of subsection

(b), the department shall develop the program within 12 months

of the effective date of this section and shall implement the

program within 18 months of the effective date of this section.

(b)  Funding contingency.--The department may not commence

development or implementation of the program until funding is

appropriated to the department for that purpose.

Section 6.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.