SB2928 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 16874 JLK 51947 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB2928

Introduced 2/4/2014, by Sen. Terry Link

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Lake County Prescription Drug Disposal Pilot Program. Provides that the program shall facilitate the collection, transportation, and disposal of pharmaceuticals by law enforcement agencies. Requires the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health to submit a report on the collection efforts and overall effectiveness of the program to the General Assembly and the Governor by January 1, 2016. Provides for a repeal date of January 1, 2016.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Lake County Prescription Drug Disposal Pilot Program.

Section 5. Findings. Prescription drug disposal programs were implemented to prevent the illegal use of legal medicinal drugs. Prescription drugs can be equally as powerful and dangerous as street drugs, and their abuse can lead young people to try street drugs like heroin, available at a fraction of the cost of prescription drugs, to replicate the euphoric effects of prescription drugs. Drug disposal programs were also implemented to minimize the environmental effects caused by prescription drugs flushed into the water supply. In 2012 alone, Lake County's disposal effort collected over 8000 pounds of prescription drugs. The program, though successful, is unfunded and dependent upon law enforcement volunteers to transport the prescription drugs twice a year to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on DEA-sponsored disposal days. Lake County is responsible for approximately 1/3 of all of the prescription drugs collected by the DEA in Illinois. The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County is permitted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to dispose of prescription drugs.

Section 10. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act, "law enforcement agency" means an agency of the State or of a unit of local government which is vested by law or ordinance with the duty to maintain public order and to enforce criminal laws, statutes, and ordinances.

Section 15. Pilot program. There is created the Lake County Prescription Drug Disposal Pilot Program subject to appropriation. The Program shall be established upon adoption of a resolution or ordinance by the Lake County Board and with the consent of the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Section 20. Purpose. The Program shall facilitate the collection, transportation, and disposal of pharmaceuticals by law enforcement agencies. The Program shall designate the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County to dispose of all pharmaceuticals from residential sources that are collected and transported by Lake County law enforcement agencies under Section 17.9A of the Environmental Protection Act.

Section 25. Reporting requirements. By January 1, 2016, the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health shall prepare a report on the collection efforts and overall effectiveness of the program and shall submit the report to the General Assembly and the Governor.

Section 30. Repeal. This Act is repealed on January 1, 2016.