Civil Rights and Needle Exchange Bills Signed by Schwarzenegger

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) today announced Governor Schwarzenegger has signed AB 14, the Civil Rights Act of 2007, and AB 110, a bill that clarifies use of state funds to support locally-run needle exchange programs that reduce needle sharing, save lives and reduce the burden on taxpayers. 

“The Civil Rights Act of 2007 fills in key gaps in civil rights protections and helps prevent unnecessary litigation,” said Assemblymember Laird.  “All Californians deserve the strongest level of protection available in state law—this bill does that for 51 legal codes in state law that are currently deficient.”

“Clean needle exchange programs are an essential part of locally-focused efforts to reduce the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne diseases,” said Mr. Laird.  “This bill clarifies state support for local programs that save lives and protect our communities.”

About AB 14, the Civil Rights Act of 2007

Sponsored by Equality California and the California State Conference of the NAACP, AB 14 increases or clarifies protections for various so-called “protected classes” in a variety of situations such as jury service, the issuance of credit cards, voter registration programs, delivery of emergency services, awarding of public contracts, food stamp eligibility, and the use of public beaches. 

AB 14 ensures that 51 nondiscrimination provisions are consistent with the Unruh Civil Rights Act and a Government Code provision that applies to state-funded programs and activities. Because these 51 provisions currently do not name all of these protected classes, there is an existing deficiency in protection for Californians, in addition to confusion for those charged with implementing and complying with these laws.

AB 14 is the fourth bill in a series of nondiscrimination bills authored by Assemblymember Laird and would bring to 108 the number of provisions updated through bills authored by him.  In 2004, Mr. Laird authored AB 2900, which amended 35 labor and employment related nondiscrimination provisions.  In 2005, he authored AB 1400, which amended the Unruh Civil Rights Act and four related provisions to clarify that people are protected from discrimination regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.  And in 2006, Mr. Laird authored AB 2800, which amended 17 housing related nondiscrimination provisions. All three bills were signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger.

About AB 110, Clean Needle Exchange

AB 110 will clarify current state policy to make clear that local public agencies may use state HIV prevention and education funds to support authorized clean needle and syringe exchange programs; and grant local agencies the authority to purchase sterile hypodermic needles and syringes for authorized clean needle and syringe exchange programs, a policy currently prohibited by the state.  AB 110, co-sponsored by the Drug Policy Alliance Network and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, continues an effort started in 2005 by Mr. Laird to support local needle exchange programs. 

According to a study published in the November 2006 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Medical Care, researchers now estimate that an American found to be infected with HIV can expect to live 24 years on average, and the cost of healthcare for that individual over that period of time is more than $600,000.

Statistics compiled by the California Department of Health Services (DHS) reveal that sharing of contaminated syringes is linked to 20 percent of all reported AIDS cases in the state.  The DHS data suggest that 1,000 to 1,500 new HIV infections occur annually in California due to the sharing of needles.