MEDICAL WASTE: SHARPS STORAGE                                                              S.B. 1334:

                                                                                                      FLOOR SUMMARY

Senate Bill 1334 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Dave Robertson

Committee:  Natural Resources, Environment and Great Lakes

CONTENT

The bill would amend Part 138 (Medical Waste) of the Public Health Code to revise the length of time that a medical waste producing facility may store used sharps on site.

Under the Code, a producing facility that does not incinerate medical waste on site may not store the waste on the premises for more than 90 days.  The bill would create an exception to this restriction for sharps, under certain circumstances.

The Code requires sharps to be disposed of by one of several prescribed methods, including placement in rigid, puncture-resistant containers that are appropriately labeled and transported to a sanitary landfill in a manner that retains the containers' integrity.  Under the bill, if this method were used, the containers would have to be transported to the landfill when filled, or within one year, whichever occurred first.

(Part 138 defines "producing facility" as a facility that generates, stores, decontaminates, or incinerates medical waste.  "Medical waste" includes sharps, pathological waste, liquid human and animal waste, and other identified substances, that are not generated from a household, a farm operation or other agricultural business, a home for the aged, or a home health care agency.  "Sharps" means needles, syringes, scalpels, and intravenous tubing with needles attached.)

MCL 333.13809 & 333.13811                                           Legislative Analyst:  Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  11-29-12                                               Fiscal Analyst:  Steve Angelotti

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.