Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/08/2000 02:40 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
March 8, 2000
2:40 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Miller, Chairman
Senator Pete Kelly, Vice-Chairman
Senator Gary Wilken
Senator Kim Elton
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Drue Pearce
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 261
"An Act relating to needle stick and sharps injury protections and
the use of safe needles by health care facilities and health care
professionals; and providing for an effective date."
-HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 261 - No previous Senate action.
WITNESS REGISTER
Senator Kim Elton
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 261
Mr. Jacob Mater II, Director
Government Affairs
Aventis Pharmaceuticals
169 John Henry Circle
Folsom, CA 95630
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 261 but asked that the bill be
amended.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 00-10, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN MILLER called the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services (HESS) Committee work session to order at 2:40 p.m.
Present were Senators Wilken, Elton, and Chairman Miller.
SB 261-PROTECTION FROM NEEDLE & SHARPS INJURIES
CHAIRMAN MILLER announced that today's meeting was postponed due to
a lengthy Senate floor session and he apologized for the
inconvenience. He noted his intention to hear the sponsor's
statement today and to take testimony from a person who traveled
from out-of-state to testify. He announced that the bill will be
heard again on March 21 and asked anyone else wishing to testify on
the bill to participate in that meeting.
SENATOR KIM ELTON, District B, gave the following abbreviated
sponsor statement. SB 261 provides for a safer needle and sharps
instrument regime in health care facilities. Similar legislation
has been addressed by five states and has been introduced in 20
other states. He worked closely with health care providers to try
to develop a workable law. He indicated a proposed amendment,
which he will ask members to support at the next meeting, that
allows some leeway for pre-filled needle manufacturers to ensure
that SB 261 works for them also.
MR. JAKE MATER, Government Affairs Director for Aventis
Pharmaceuticals, said he was speaking for Aventis and other
manufacturers who have sent written letters to committee members.
Manufacturers of pre-filled syringes are concerned that under the
current laws in other states, pre-filled syringes are not currently
engineered with sharps devices. Manufacturers will have to conduct
stability studies for approximately two years and then wait for six
months to one year for FDA approval. Manufacturers have asked
other states to give them an exemption to allow for either FDA
approval or some timeframe that will allow the free market to
decide what products should be made available to patients. The
manufacturers support the concept of SB 261 and the need for these
devices. Their primary concern is for patient and physician access
to needle products.
SENATOR ELTON pointed out that the proposed amendment provides for
a three-year period for manufacturers of pre-filled syringe devices
to comply. He said he does not think any committee member will be
unwilling to make additional adjustments if "hiccups" occur.
MR. MATER explained that one of the manufacturers' concerns is that
as more and more consolidation occurs in the pharmaceutical
industry, products are being brought in from abroad. Because those
products have not gone through the entire FDA process, SB 261 may
limit product access to individuals. He wanted to encourage some
forethought as far as the timeframe for getting FDA approval,
rather than include a specific date.
CHAIRMAN MILLER repeated his intent to hear SB 261 as the first
item of business before the committee on March 20. The committee
will take testimony, discuss proposed amendments, and hopefully
move the bill on to its next committee of referral. He then
adjourned the meeting at 2:48 p.m.
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