Assemblyman Acknowledges That His Bill Faces An Uphill Fight

ALBANY -- Needle exchange programs would be banned throughout the state under a bill introduced yesterday by Assemblyman Eric Vitaliano (D-Mid-Island).

The measure would force the closure of the 12 programs already in place in the state as well as derail plans for a proposed needle exchange program for Staten Island.

The proposed Island program, sponsored by the Staten Island AIDS Task Force and Staten Island University Hospital, would involve a mobile van traveling to three sites.

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