HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01102006 - C.75 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
FROM: William B. Walker, MD, Health Services Director a
Costa
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DATE: January 10, 2006 ---
County
SUBJECT: Emergency Declaration And Authorization of the County Health Department in Support
For Needle Exchange Programs
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION(S):
DIRECT the Health Department to replace the regular reauthorization of a state of emergency regarding
needle exchange with an annual plresentation and public comment.
Background:
On December 14, 1999, the Board of Supervisors issued a local State of Emergency, allowing
needle exchange to occur in Contra Costa. The State of Emergency has continued on the consent
calendar every two weeks since thIat time.
The spread of HIV and Hepatitis CI through the sharing of needles remains a concern in Contra
Costa. While there is a stabilizing I downward trend of AIDS attributed to injection drug use, the rate
of infection in Contra Costa remairis higher than in California as a whole. Through May 1, 2005, a
total of 2,538 cases of AIDS have been reported in Contra Costa, with injection drug use (IDU)
accounting for approximately 28%lof all AIDS cases ever diagnosed. By contrast, among all people
in California ever diagnosed with AIDS, the rate of infection attributed to IDU is approximately 19%.
The intertwined impact of injection drug use and AIDS is particularly stark in West County, where
nearly 36% of all people living with AIDS and nearly half of all women living with AIDS attribute their
infection to injection drug use.
On October 7, 2005, the Governor signed legislation (AB 547 / Berg) that allows counties to replace
the biweekly declaration of a state of emergency with an annual presentation by the health officer at
an open meeting of the Board ofSupervisors in which the public and other stakeholders are allowed
ample opportunity to comment. The legislation takes effect January 1, 2006. The State Office of
AIDS is finalizing details on a process to implement the requirements of the legislation, and has
indicated that a local declaration is no longer necessary if the jurisdiction allows for public comment
annually.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES NO XX SIGNATURE
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOA I O APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED '� OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS:
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
AYES: NOES: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
ABSENT: ABSTAIN- SUPERVISORS ON T E DATE SHOWN.
Contact:Christine Leivermann,313-6786 ATTESTED lJ
JOHN SW , CLERK OF BOARD OF
cc: Public Health Director,597 Center,#200,Martinez SUPER S AND COUNTAKADMINISTRATOR
Health Services Director,50 Douglas, 300, Martinez
BY• ii�g==�z����. ,DEPUTY
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