Florida Senate - 2024 SB By Senator Stewart 17-00483-24 2024880__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled

An act relating to safe collection of medical sharps; 2 defining the term “medical sharps”; requiring the Department of Health, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection, to conduct a study of the safe collection and proper disposal of at-home medical sharps; providing requirements for the study; authorizing the departments to work or contract with municipalities and private entities that apply to participate in the study; requiring the departments to submit a report of their findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; providing requirements for the report; providing an appropriation; providing an effective date. 14

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 16

Section 1. Medical sharps collection study.— 18

(1) As used in this section, the term “medical sharps” 19 means instruments used to cut or penetrate the skin for medical purposes. The term includes, but is not limited to, needles, 21 syringes with needles, tissue punches, lancets, and razor blades. 23

(2) The Department of Health, in partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection, shall conduct a year-25 long study of the safe collection and proper disposal of at-home medical sharps. In conducting the study, the departments shall evaluate at least the following two methods of safe disposal in both rural and urban environments: 29 Florida Senate - 2024 SB 880 17-00483-24 2024880__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

(

a) Mail-back programs. 30

(

b) Door-to-door pickup programs. 31

(3) The departments may work or contract with municipalities and private entities that apply to participate in the study. 34

(4) The departments shall submit a report of their findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by July 37 1, 2025. The report must include, at a minimum, all of the following: 39

(

a) The cost and effectiveness of each of the medical sharps collection programs studied. 41

(

b) Recommendations for the most effective method for safely collecting medical sharps, including the estimated costs associated with statewide adoption of such method. 44

(

c) Details regarding the current practices of municipalities in this state, recommendations for improving existing programs, and whether any municipalities have updated or adopted programs based on the findings of the study. 48

Section 2. For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the nonrecurring sum of $200,000 from the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund is appropriated to the Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection to implement this act. 52

Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 53