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Committee advances bill to preserve pharmacist syringe access, sponsors say it prevents HIV and hepatitis spread
Summary
AB 309 was advanced by the Assembly Appropriations Committee to remove a sunset and preserve pharmacists' authority to provide syringes without a prescription; sponsors and public-health groups testified it reduces disease transmission and imposes no state cost, while no organized opposition registered at the hearing.
The California State Assembly Appropriations Committee on April 23 advanced AB 309, a bill that would remove a sunset and preserve pharmacists—s authority to provide sterile syringes without a prescription. Backers said maintaining pharmacy syringe access is a proven public-health tool to prevent HIV and viral hepatitis.
Why it matters: Supporters told the committee that HIV diagnoses reversed a long-decline in 2021 and 2022 and that greater access to sterile syringes reduces disease transmission without increasing drug use. Witnesses said syringe access also connects people to testing and treatment, and that the bill imposes no new direct state costs.
Supporters— testimony: The bill—s author (presenter) said AB 309 preserves laws that increase syringe access; the measure is sponsored by the California Pharmacists Association, Drug Policy Alliance, Health Officers Association of California and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Michelle Rivas, speaking for the California Pharmacists Association, told the committee that pharmacists provide not only syringe access but also guidance on treatment options, safe disposal and testing referrals. Rivas said "the bill does not result in new state costs" and that pharmacists maintain existing infrastructure to sell syringes without prescriptions.
Health-economics figures cited at the hearing: Witnesses cited several cost estimates. One speaker said the estimated lifetime medical cost to treat one person with HIV is $326,500; another witness said a 2021 estimate put lifetime HIV treatment costs above $420,000. Hepatitis C treatment costs were cited at roughly $20,000 on average, with treatment for resistant variants reaching up to $100,000. Supporters argued that preventing infections through syringe access avoids these downstream costs.
Cosponsors and supporters on record: Cosponsors included the California Pharmacists Association, Drug Policy Alliance, Health Officers Association of California and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Additional supporters who spoke included the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and APLA Health, the Drug Policy Alliance, the Health Officers Association of California, the County Health Executives Association of California, and University of California Irvine.
Opposition: No organized opposition speakers were recorded at the hearing. Committee staff and the author said they would return the bill to the committee for a roll call vote.
Committee action: The bill was scheduled for an A roll call and was recorded as moved out for a roll call. The author respectfully asked for an "I" (aye) vote at the appropriate time.
