South Carolina S 255: Safer Syringe Program

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 255 Text of Previous Version (Jan. 21, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 255

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 
8 TO CHAPTER 53, TITLE 44 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE "SAFER SYRINGE PROGRAM," 
INCLUDING WHO MAY ESTABLISH AND OPERATE THE PROGRAM AS WELL AS SERVICES THE 
PROGRAM MAY OFFER, AND TO PROVIDE IMMUNITY FROM CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LIABILITY 
FOR PROGRAM EMPLOYEES, PARTICIPANTS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT; AND BY AMENDING 
SECTION 44-130-20, RELATING TO TERMS DEFINED IN THE "SOUTH CAROLINA OVERDOSE 
PREVENTION ACT," SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

Be it enacted by the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Chapter 53, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 8

Safer Syringe Program

 Section 
44-53-1010. For purposes of this article:

 (1) 
"Community distributor" means an organization, either public or private, which 
provides substance use disorder assistance and services, such as counseling, 
homeless services, advocacy, harm reduction, syringe services, alcohol and drug 
screening, and treatment to individuals at risk of experiencing an opioid-related 
overdose.

 (2) "Controlled 
substance" has the same meaning as provided in Section 44-53-110(6).

 (3) "Controlled 
substance analogue" has the same meaning as provided in Section 44-53-110(7).

 (4) "Department" 
means the Department of Public Health.

 (5) "Hypodermic 
needle" means a hollow needle used to inject substances into the body.

 (6) 
"Medications for addiction treatment" means drugs approved by the United States 
Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of substance use disorders or 
the use of such drugs in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, 
to provide a "whole-patient" approach to the treatment of substance use 
disorders and any concomitant conditions associated with it.

 (7) "Opioid 
antidotes" has the same meaning as provided in Section 44-130-20(7).

 (8) "Participant" 
means an individual who receives services through a safer syringe program.

 (9) "Program 
employee" means an employee or volunteer who administers the program pursuant 
to this article.

 (10) 
"Residue" means the remains of a controlled substance or other drug attached to 
or contained within a hypodermic needle or syringe or other supplies.

 (11) 
"Safer syringe program" or "program" means a comprehensive program engaged in 
the distribution, furnishing, and collection of hypodermic needles, syringes, 
or other supplies to participants.

 (12) 
"Syringe" means a device used to inject fluids into or withdraw them from the 
body or its cavities, such as an instrument that consists of a hollow barrel 
fitted with a plunger and a hypodermic needle.

 (13) 
"Supplies" means hypodermic needles, syringes, drug checking supplies and 
equipment, including fentanyl test strips, preparation containers, cotton, 
filters, alcohol wipes, water, saline, tourniquets, disposal containers, wound 
care items, emergency opioid antagonists, and other items used in the 
consumption of drugs.

 Section 
44-53-1020. A community distributor may establish and operate a safer syringe 
program.

 Section 
44-53-1030. A safer syringe program may:

 (1) 
provide program participants with education regarding the proper disposal of 
used hypodermic needles and syringes and other supplies and furnish or make 
available one or more of the following disposal options for used hypodermic 
needles and syringes:

 (a) 
an onsite hypodermic needle and syringe collection and disposal program that 
meets applicable state and federal standards;

 (b) 
mail-back sharps containers authorized by the United States Postal Service; 
and/or

 (c) 
sharps containers for use off-site by program participants that meet applicable 
state and federal standards;

 (2) 
provide hypodermic needles, syringes, and other supplies at no cost and in 
quantities sufficient to ensure that hypodermic needles, syringes, and other 
supplies are not shared or reused. All new hypodermic needles and syringes 
shall be provided in sealed sterile packaging;

 (3) 
provide program participants emergency opioid antidotes and instructions and 
training on how to use such medication; and

 (4) 
employ locally relevant outreach strategies such as vending machines and 
mail-based or mobile distribution in addition to or in place of a free-standing 
location to enhance sustainability and coverage for hard-to-reach populations.

 Section 
44-53-1040. (A) A program 
employee or participant who is in full compliance with the provisions of this 
article shall not be in violation of Chapter 53, Title 44 for possession or 
distribution of needles, hypodermic syringes, or other injection supplies, or 
residual amounts of contr