Pubdate: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 Source: San Luis Obispo County Tribune (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Tribune Contact: P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112 Fax: 805.781.7905 Website: http://www.thetribunenews.com/ GOV. DAVIS SIGNS BILL ON NEEDLE EXCHANGES Cities Allowed To Carry Out Their Ordinances SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Gray Davis signed a bill that allows San Francisco, Berkeley and other cities to continue administering needle-exchange programs for intravenous drug users. The needle exchange bill signed Saturday requires cities and counties to use emergency powers to authorize needle-exchange programs, and exempts cities and employees from criminal prosecution for distributing syringes. Current state law, with a few exceptions, prohibits the furnishing, possession or use of hypodermic needles or syringes without doctor's prescription. But four California cities - Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Santa Cruz - and Marin County have adopted emergency ordinances allowing needle exchanges to help fight AIDS. The legislation, which goes into effect Jan. 1, is weaker than an original bill Davis said he would veto. The original bill would have sanctioned needle-exchange programs in any California community that wanted one and touted the effectiveness of needle exchange programs. Davis said he believed the measure sent mixed messages to children and teen-agers about illegal drug use. Some criticized the new measure as too weak. "It's half a loaf," said San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Tom Ammiano. "It's less comprehensive and a lot more cumbersome. I get frustrated because there is the preponderance of evidence that needle-exchange programs work. There are lives at stake. ... This is an important first step, but basically let's just say it's bittersweet." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D