1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to environment; providing for safe sharps management;amending 
1.3 	Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 116.76, subdivision 18; proposing coding for 
1.4 	new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 116.76, subdivision 18, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 18.Sharps. "Sharps" means:
1.8 	(1) discarded items that can induce subdermal inoculation of infectious agents, 
1.9 	including needles, lancets, scalpel blades, pipettes, and other items derived from human 
1.10 	or animal patient care, blood banks, laboratories, mortuaries, research facilities, and 
1.11 	industrial operations; and
1.12 	(2) discarded glass or rigid plastic vials containing infectious agents.

1.13 	Sec. 2. [116.835] SAFE SHARPS MANAGEMENT.
1.14 	(a) A sharps manufacturer that sells or distributes sharps that are usually intended 
1.15 	for home use, and a pharmaceutical manufacturer that sells or distributes a medication in 
1.16 	Minnesota that is usually intended to be self-injected in a home resulting in the generation 
1.17 	of sharps shall, on or before July 1, 2011, post to its Web site a plan that describes how the 
1.18 	manufacturer supports the safe collection and proper disposal of the sharps.
1.19 	(b) The plan required under paragraph (a) shall include, at a minimum, a description 
1.20 	of the actions, if any, taken by the manufacturer to do the following:
1.21 	(1) provide for the safe collection and proper disposal of sharps;
1.22 	(2) educate consumers about safe management and collection opportunities; and 
2.1 	(3) support efforts by retailers, pharmaceutical distributors, local governments, health 
2.2 	care organizations, public health officers, solid waste service providers, organizations 
2.3 	representing patients who use sharps, and other groups with interest in protecting public 
2.4 	health and safety through the sale, collection, and proper disposal of sharps.
2.5 	(c) A public health agency or clinic that participates in a needle exchange program 
2.6 	must post to its Web site a plan that describes how the agency or clinic supports the safe 
2.7 	collection and proper disposal of the sharps.

2.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2011.