RES-11140 Needle Exchange ProgramsRESOLUTION N0. 11140
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ORANGE SUPPORTING SENATE
BILL 689 TO ALLOW LOCAL CONTROL OVER
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEEDLE EXCHANGE
PROGRAMS.
WHEREAS, State Senator John Moorlach has introduced Senate Bill 689 requiring a
change in State law to only allow the State Department of Health to authorize hypodermic needle
and syringe exchange services in a city or county that has adopted an ordinance allowing such
authorization; and
WHEREAS, current law allows the State Department of Health to authorize a needle
exchange program over the objections of the local government and its residents; and
WHEREAS, such authorization has been provided by the State Department of Health to a
mobile exchange program to operate in the City of Orange over the objection of the Chief of
Police. The State authorized the program to operate in an area of the city that did not have a
current population that used intravenous drugs and would have invited in intravenous needle users
and syringe litter that was not currently present; and
WHEREAS, the city is currently involved in litigation over this approval, with the court
recently issuing a preliminary injunction preventing the operation of the mobile needle exchange
program, finding that the risk of harm from syringe litter is substantial; and
WHEREAS, by supporting this legislation, the City Council is not condexnning all needle
exchange programs. Such programs may be appropriate in a proper location, such as, a medical
facility or some other location where the waste can be contained and appropriate treatment can
accompany the distribution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Orange
strongly supports senate Bi11689 and the efforts of Senator Moorlach to provide local control over
an issue so important to our communities and asks the California Legislature to pass SB 689.
ADOPTED this 12th day of March 2019.
Mar A. Murphy, Mayor, City f ran
ATTEST:
Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange
I, PAMELA COLEMAN, City Clerk of the City of Orange, California, do hereby certify
that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted by the City Council of the City of
Orange at a regular meeting thereof held on the 12th day of March 2019, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Alvarez,Murphy,Nicholas, Monaco
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COiJNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange
Resolution No. 11140 2