Bill > H1470

This bill aims to protect public safety officers, such as police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), who may be exposed to potential blood-borne pathogens during the course of their duties. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It requires anyone under arrest to undergo blood testing if one or more public safety personnel were exposed to potential blood-borne pathogens, such as being stuck by a hypodermic syringe or needle, or being bitten. The arrested individual must be tested immediately after the arrest and again three months later if the first test was negative. The test results are subject to confidentiality agreements with the public safety personnel and the Department of Public Health will maintain the records to provide care to anyone infected. 2. It requires the protective caps to be in place on all hypodermic syringes or needles at all times before and after use. Violating this provision can result in a jail sentence of 1-2 years and/or a fine of $500-$5,000.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H1470