San Diego Mayor Plans To Introduce Needle-Exchange Legislation

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders (R), who supports the concept of needle-exchange programs to reduce the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, plans to introduce needle-exchange legislation to develop a program in the city, according to a spokesperson, the San Diego-Union Tribune reports. Although a previous needle-exchange program shut down in July 2005, supporters are confident that it will be reinstated because there are no vacancies on the City Council, the mayor supports it and a new law removes the requirement for local governments to declare a health emergency every two weeks to allow needle-exchange programs took effect on Jan. 1. Under the law, local governments can authorize a needle-exchange program with a single vote. The mayor will meet with the Alliance Healthcare Foundation, which funds the program, to develop a proposal, Sanders spokesperson Fred Sainz said, adding that a proposal could be presented to the City Council in March or early April (Oakes, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2/8).