Pubdate: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 Source: Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ) Copyright: 2006 Courier-Post Contact: http://www.courierpostonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/826 Author: Gregory J. Volpe, Gannett State Bureau Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?137 (Needle Exchange) SENATE PANEL MAY OK CLEAN-NEEDLE BILLS Trenton -- Following a long and controversial route, two bills that would give intravenous drug users access to clean needles may be approved by the Senate health committee next week. The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee will meet Monday to consider a pair of bills that would allow anyone to buy syringes without a prescription and allow municipalities to set up needle exchange programs. Needle exchange has been pushed by state lawmakers for more than a decade but hasn't been able to get through the Legislature, leaving New Jersey as the only state without a program despite the support of Gov. Jon S. Corzine, Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-West Orange, and Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts, D-Camden. Though Democrats control the committee, five to three, Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Newark, has been a vocal critic of needle exchange, leaving the measure deadlocked in the committee. But another opponent of needle exchange, Sen. Robert Singer, R-Lakewood, said he would give the Democrats his vote Monday, with no recommendation for passage in the Senate, just so the matter can be debated by the full Senate, where its fate is doubtful. "There are some pieces of legislation that are just important enough that the whole Senate should take up," Singer said. "The committee system is to hear the testimony, to make a recommendation. I think it sends a very strong message when it comes out with no recommendation from the committee." Among Republican opponents on the health committee is U.S. Senate candidate Thomas Kean Jr., R-Westfield, who said he will vote against the bills Monday. "Number one, it undermines law enforcement activities," Kean said. "Secondly, I think what we need to focus on is treatment and education initiatives rather than those initiatives that enable drug dependents' behaviors." Kean' opponent, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-Hoboken, an appointed incumbent seeking a full term in the U.S. Senate, supports needle exchange programs. A leading needle-exchange advocate said the issue wouldn't factor in November's election. "I'm not sure if it's on the radar in terms of a federal election," said Roseanne Scotti, director of the Drug Policy Alliance of New Jersey. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman