§ 26:5C-27 — Operation of sterile syringe access program.

3. The Department of Health shall permit the establishment and operation of harm reduction services in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-25 et al.). The department shall prescribe by regulation requirements for the establishment and operation of harm reduction services to provide hypodermic syringes and needles in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-25 et al.). a. The department shall: (1) permit a registration form, to be submitted in a manner prescribed by the department, from any entity that seeks to provide harm reduction services in New Jersey, which shall be a prerequisite to so doing; (2) approve or deny a registration request based upon the requirements established by regulation of the department; (3) support and facilitate, to the maximum extent practicable, the linkage of harm reduction services to: (a) health care facilities and programs that may provide appropriate health care services, including mental health services, medication-assisted treatment services, and other substance use disorder treatment services to consumers receiving harm reduction services; and (b) housing assistance programs, career and employment-related counseling programs, and education counseling programs that may provide appropriate ancillary support services to consumers receiving harm reduction services; (4) provide for the adoption of a uniform membership card or other uniform Statewide means of identification for consumers, staff, and volunteers of entities offering authorized harm reduction services pursuant to paragraph (9) of subsection b. of section 4 of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-28); and (5) maintain a record of de-identified statistical aggregate data reported to the department by entities offering authorized harm reduction services pursuant to paragraph (11) of subsection b. of section 4 of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-28). b. The department shall be authorized to accept funding as may be made available from the private sector to effectuate the purposes of P.L.2006, c.99 (C.26:5C-25 et al.). L.2006, c.99, s.3; amended 2012, c.17, s.345; 2015, c.10, s.4; 2016, c.36, s.2; 2021, c.396, s.3.