Section 24-901 – Definitions
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. (b) “Community–based organization” means a public or private organization that is representative of a community or significant segments of a community and provides educational, health, or social services to individuals in the community. (c) “Drug” has the meaning stated in § 8–101 of this article. (d) “HIV” means […]
Section 24-902 – Establishment of Programs
(a) (1) A Program may be established by a local health department or a community–based organization, subject to the provisions of this subtitle. (2) (i) A county may cooperate with another county to establish a Program. (ii) A community–based organization may establish a multicounty Program. (3) This subtitle does not apply to the AIDS Prevention Sterile Needle and Syringe Exchange Pilot […]
Section 24-903 – Operation and Services; Development of Procedures, Outreach Plans, and Protocols
(a) A Program shall: (1) Be designed and maintained to provide security of Program locations and equipment, in accordance with regulations adopted by the Department; (2) Be operated to allow participants to obtain and return hypodermic needles and syringes at any Program location, if more than one location is available; (3) Include appropriate levels of staff expertise in working […]
Section 24-904 – Standing Advisory Committee on Opioid-Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Programs
(a) The Department shall appoint a Standing Advisory Committee on Opioid–Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Programs. (b) The Standing Advisory Committee shall consist of: (1) The Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services; (2) One individual from academia who specializes in public health issues related to substance–related disorders or infectious diseases; (3) One representative from law enforcement, nominated by the Executive […]
Section 24-905 – Duties of Department
(a) The Department shall: (1) Adopt regulations for the implementation of this subtitle, in consultation with the Standing Advisory Committee and the Maryland Association of County Health Officers; and (2) Ensure the provision of technical assistance to a Program about best practices, best practice protocols, and other subject areas. (b) The regulations adopted under subsection (a)(1) of this section […]
Section 24-906 – Identification of Participants; Confidentiality of Information
(a) (1) Each Program participant shall be issued a unique identification card with a unique identification number. (2) The unique identification number may not be cross–indexed to any personal identifying data on the participant. (b) Any information obtained by a Program that identifies Program participants, including Program records, is: (1) Confidential; (2) Not open to public inspection or disclosure; and (3) Not […]
Section 24-907 – Data Collection and Reporting
A Program shall collect and report at least annually the following data to the Department: (1) The number of participants served by the Program; (2) The number of new participants registered by the Program during the reporting period; (3) Demographic profiles of participants served by the Program, including: (i) Age; (ii) Gender; (iii) Race; (iv) Zip code; and (v) Types of drugs used; […]
Section 24-908 – Immunity From Prosecution; Permitted Prosecutions
(a) A Program staff member, Program volunteer, or Program participant may not be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for violating § 5–601, § 5–619, § 5–620, or § 5–902(c) or (d) of the Criminal Law Article for possessing or distributing controlled paraphernalia or drug paraphernalia whenever the possession or distribution of the controlled paraphernalia or drug paraphernalia […]
Section 24-909 – No Immunity From Drug-Related Criminal Prosecutions; Exceptions
Except for violations of any laws that could arise from residue attached to or contained within hypodermic needles or syringes being returned or already returned to a Program, nothing in this subtitle provides immunity to a Program staff member, Program volunteer, or Program participant from criminal prosecution for a violation of any law prohibiting or […]