| Chapter 016 |
| 2025 -- S 0462 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/06/2025 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HARM REDUCTION CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PILOT PROGRAM |
Introduced By: Senators Murray, Lauria, Lawson, McKenney, Bissaillon, Kallman, DiMario, Felag, Mack, and Urso |
| Date Introduced: February 26, 2025 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. The title of Chapter 23-12.10 of the General Laws entitled "Harm Reduction |
| Center Advisory Committee and Pilot Program." is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| CHAPTER 23-12.10 |
| Harm Reduction Center Advisory Committee and Pilot Program. [Expires March 1, 2026.] |
| CHAPTER 23-12.10 |
| HARM REDUCTION CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PROGRAM |
| SECTION 2. Sections 23-12.10-1 and 23-12.10-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-12.10 |
| entitled "Harm Reduction Center Advisory Committee and Pilot Program." are hereby amended to |
| read as follows: |
| 23-12.10-1. Purpose and creation — Municipal authorization required. |
| (a) The purpose of this chapter is to authorize a four-year (4) pilot program to prevent drug |
| overdoses through the establishment of “harm reduction centers,” which, as used in this chapter, |
| shall be defined as a community-based resource for health screening, disease prevention, and |
| recovery assistance where persons may safely consume pre-obtained substances. Smoking of pre- |
| obtained substances shall also be permitted within the harm reduction center. |
| (b) Each harm reduction center shall provide the necessary healthcare professionals to |
| prevent overdose, and shall provide referrals for counseling or other medical treatment that may be |
| appropriate for persons utilizing the harm reduction center. |
| (c) The director of the department of health shall promulgate regulations to authorize the |
| program established by this chapter, and in accordance with § 23-12.10-5. Nothing contained in |
| this section authorizes a harm reduction center without approval of the municipality in which the |
| center is proposed. |
| (d)(1) Any harm reduction center proposed to be operated pursuant to the provisions of this |
| chapter shall require municipal authorization and approval prior to opening or operating in any |
| community within this state. |
| (2) As used in this chapter, the term “municipal authorization and approval” means an |
| express affirmative vote by the city or town council, or the equivalent governing body, of any |
| municipality where a harm reduction center is proposed to be located, which affirmative vote |
| approves: |
| (i) The opening and operation of the proposed harm reduction center; |
| (ii) The exact location of the proposed harm reduction center, which shall include street |
| address and plat and lot number or other applicable number as used by the municipality’s tax |
| assessor; and |
| (iii) An express authorization as to the hours of operation of the proposed harm reduction |
| center. |
| (e) Each harm reduction center approved for operation pursuant to the provisions of this |
| chapter shall cease operations on or before March 1, 2026 2028, unless an act of the general |
| assembly expressly authorizes the continuation of the operation of the harm reduction center. |
| 23-12.10-6. Sunset. |
| On or before January 31, 2026 2028, the director of the department of health and the |
| attorney general shall submit to the governor, the speaker of the house, and the president of the |
| senate, a report which includes, at a minimum, the number of individuals served by each harm |
| reduction center; the number of individuals who were connected to health services by each harm |
| reduction center; and any data relating to the occurrence of and/or prevention of overdoses or deaths |
| associated with each harm reduction center, as well as recommendations as to continuation of the |
| provisions of this chapter. Unless , and unless extended by the general assembly, the provisions of |
| this chapter shall sunset and expire on March 1, 2026 2028. |
| SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC001372/SUB A |
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