(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Bloodborne pathogens" means the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus.
(2) "Board of health" means the board of health of a city or general health district or the authority having the duties of a board of health under section3709.05of the Revised Code.
(B) A board of health may establish a bloodborne infectious disease prevention program. The cost of the program is the responsibility of the board of health.
(C) A board of health that establishes a bloodborne infectious disease prevention program shall determine the manner in which the program is operated and the individuals who are eligible to participate. The program shall do all of the following:
(1) If resources are available, provide on-site screening for bloodborne pathogens;
(2) Provide education to each program participant regarding exposure to bloodborne pathogens;
(3) Identify health and supportive services providers and substance abuse treatment programs available in the area served by the prevention program and, as appropriate, develop and enter into referral agreements with the identified providers and programs;
(4) Encourage each program participant to seek appropriate medical care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, or social services and, as appropriate, make referrals to health and supportive services providers and substance abuse treatment programs with which the prevention program has entered into referral agreements;
(5) Use a recordkeeping system that ensures that the identity of each program participant remains anonymous;
(6) Comply with applicable state and federal laws governing participant confidentiality;
(7) Provide each program participant with documentation identifying the individual as an active participant in the program.
(D) A bloodborne infectious disease prevention program may collect demographic information about each program participant, including the zip code applicable to the participant's address, and the participant's comorbidity diagnosis, if any. The program may report the information to the department of mental health and addiction services.
(E)(1) Before establishing a bloodborne infectious disease prevention program, the board of health shall consult with all of the following:
(a) Interested parties from the health district represented by the board, including all of the following:
(i) Law enforcement representatives;
(ii) Prosecutors, as defined in section2935.01of the Revised Code;
(iii) Representatives of community addiction services providers whose alcohol and drug addiction services are certified under section5119.36of the Revised Code;
(iv) Persons recovering from substance abuse;
(v) Relevant private, nonprofit organizations, including hepatitis C and HIV advocacy organizations;
(vi) Residents of the health district;
(vii) The board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services that serves the area in which the health district is located.
(b) Representatives selected by the governing authority of the city, village, or township in which the program is proposed to be established.
(2) If the board of health, after consulting with the interested parties and representatives listed in division (D)(1) of this section, decides to establish a bloodborne infectious disease prevention program, the board shall provide written notice of the proposed location to the governing authority of the city, village, or township in which the program is to be located. The governing authority retains all zoning rights.
(F)(1) If carrying out a duty under a component of a bloodborne infectious disease prevention program would be considered a violation of any of the following, an employee or volunteer of the program, when carrying out the duty, is not subject to criminal prosecution for the violation:
(a) Section2923.24of the Revised Code;
(b) Section2925.12of the Revised Code;
(c) Division (C)(1) of section2925.14of the Revised Code regarding the prohibition against illegal possession of drug paraphernalia;
(d) Division (C) or (D) of section3719.172of the Revised Code regarding the prohibition against furnishing a hypodermic needle to another person.
(2) If participating in a component of a bloodborne infectious disease prevention program would be considered a violation of any of the following, a program participant who is within one thousand feet of a program facility and is in possession of documentation from the program identifying the individual as an active participant in the program is not subject to criminal prosecution for the violation:
(a) Section2923.24of the Revised Code;
(b) Section2925.12of the Revised Code;
(c) Division (C)(1) of section2925.14of the Revised Code regarding the prohibition against illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.
(G) A board of health that establishes a bloodborne infectious disease prevention program shall include details about the program in its annual report prepared under section3707.47of the Revised Code.
Last updated October 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM