HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1888 FILED ON: 1/15/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1648
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
David T. Vieira
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to possession of hypodermic needles and protecting public safety officials.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
David T. Vieira | 3rd Barnstable | 1/15/2015 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1888 FILED ON: 1/15/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1648
By Mr. Vieira of Falmouth, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1648) of David T. Vieira for legislation to further protect first responders from unprotected exposures caused by needles and establishing a penalty for lying to emergency personnel about possession of such needles. The Judiciary. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)
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An Act relative to possession of hypodermic needles and protecting public safety officials.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. With the success of Chapter 172 of the Acts of 2006, which legalized the possession of hypodermic needles with the intent of curbing the transmission of blood borne diseases through the sharing of needles, and protecting our first responders by letting people who are being treated or being placed in police custody to freely admit to having needles without fear of repercussions of law.
Let us further protect our first responders from unprotected exposures caused by needles, by creating an incentive for those with needles in their possession to inform those who may be accidently stuck by the needle.
SECTION 2
Chapter 94C is hereby amended by adding the following:
Section 32O; Whoever has in their possession or under their control a hypodermic needle and when asked by law enforcement, fire, or EMS personnel who are acting in their duties, if they have a needle and either refuse to answer or say no, shall be punished by imprisonment in jail or house of correction for not more than one year, or by a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than five thousand dollars, or both.