It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

{ADD 23-1.9-1. Self-sheathing needle advisory committee -- Purpose. -- ADD} {ADD The department of health shall establish an advisory committee pursuant to the provisions of this section which shall require each hospital licensed under chapter 17 of title 23 to analyze their needlestick injuries for the period from June 1, 1993 to June 1, 1994, inclusive. On or before March 1, 1995 each hospital shall report its analysis on forms provided by the department of health, with the advice of the advisory committee. In addition, each hospital shall evaluate the actual or potential use of protective needle devices such as self-sheathing needles, needleless, blunt, or recessed intravenous systems, and indicate to the department of health whether they believe their facility should replace needles currently in use with alternative instruments. Such reports and analyses shall not be disclosed by the department of health under any circumstances to any other party, and shall not constitute public records as defined in section 38-2-2. The department of health shall collate the data and information contained therein and present such data and information to the advisory committee in a form that does not directly or indirectly identify or permit the identification of any individual or institutional health care provider. The department of health shall indicate any trends or anamolous data to the advisory committee. After reviewing the information compiled by the department of health, the advisory committee shall forward its recommendations and findings to the department of health and such recommendations may consider whether and under what circumstances, if any, hospitals should be required by regulations to replace needles currently utilized by health care workers which have the potential to become contaminated by human blood or other potentially infectious materials with alternative technologies where available and appropriate. The committee shall forward to the department of health its recommendations by July 1, 1995. The committee shall cease to exists thirty (30) days after the submission of its report. ADD}

{ADD 23-1.9-2. Advisory committee membership. -- ADD} {ADD The advisory committee shall consist of seventeen (17) members as follows: one (1) representative from the R.I. department of health and one (1) representative from each of the following organizations, to be appointed by each organizations: Rhode Island Hospital; Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island; Kent County Memorial Hospital; Roger Williams Medical Center; Women and Infants Hospital; Miriam Hospital; St. Joseph's Hospital; Landmark Medical Center; Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals; National Association of Government Employees; State Nurse's Association District 1199; RI Committee on Occupational Safety and Health; American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees; Laborers, Teamsters and RI State Association of Fire Fighters.

Members of the commission shall meet in quarters provided by the department of health commencing thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act and shall elect a chairperson and a secretary. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.