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Supervisors Thomas and Parlin, in concert with Sheriff Leikauf, recommending the Board approve sending a letter to the California Department of Public Health requesting they deny the 2023 reauthorization of Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition’s services for a syringe exchange program in El Dorado County.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The California Legislature provides for syringe exchange programs to operate in California cities and counties in two different ways under California Health and Safety Code Section 121349: 1) By action of the local government, or 2) By authorization of the State Department of Public Health which enables entities that provide syringe exchange services to apply for authorization to provide services in “any location where the department determines that the conditions exist for the rapid spread of HIV, viral hepatitis, or any other potentially deadly or disabling infections that are spread through the sharing of used hypodermic needles and syringes”. Sierra Harm Reduction has been operating in El Dorado County under the State of California’s authorization since January 2020, not by any local order or authorization through El Dorado County or the City of Placerville.
Per the requirement of their authorization, Section 121349.3 states that “health officer of the participating jurisdiction shall present biennially at an open meeting of the board of supervisors or city council a report detailing the status of clean needle and syringe exchange programs, including, but not limited to, relevant statistics on bloodborne infections associated with needle sharing activity and the use of public funds for these programs”. On October 11, 2022, the Board received a presentation and report detailing the status of the Sierra Harm Reduction Coalition’s (SHRC) syringe exchange program authorized by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Additionally, Section 121349 states that authorization shall not be for more than tw...
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