Furnishing hypodermic needles and syringes.

Crime Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Elhawary
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide information on funding for the study or specific enforcement details.

Furnishing Hypodermic Needles and Syringes

This law allows doctors, pharmacists, or their helpers to give hypodermic needles and syringes to people over 18 without a prescription for personal use.

What This Bill Does

Allows doctors and pharmacists to provide hypodermic needles and syringes to adults aged 18 years or older without needing a prescription.
Expands the ability of helpers (delegees) of doctors and pharmacists to also give out these items to people over 18.

Who It Names or Affects

Doctors, pharmacists, and their helpers
Adults aged 18 years or older

Terms To Know

Delegee: A person who is given the authority to act on behalf of a doctor or pharmacist.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how this expansion might affect local agencies.
There are no details about when and how the new provisions regarding hypodermic needles and syringes will be enforced.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2026-01-06 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on L. & E.
2026-01-05 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-17 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on L. & E.
2025-03-13 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-13 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on L. & E.
2024-12-03 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.
2024-12-02 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 37, as amended, Elhawary.
Workforce development: mental health service providers: homelessness.
Furnishing hypodermic needles and syringes.
Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists and pharmacies by the California State Board of Pharmacy. Existing law authorizes a physician or pharmacist to, without a prescription or permit, furnish hypodermic needles and syringes for human use to a person 18 years of age or older, and authorizes a person 18 years of age or older to, without a prescription or license, obtain hypodermic needles and syringes solely for personal use from a physician or pharmacist, as a public health measure, as specified. Existing law, when no other penalty is provided, makes a knowing violation of the Pharmacy Law a misdemeanor and, in all other instances, makes a violation punishable as an infraction.
This bill would expand the above-described provisions to authorize a delegee of a physician or pharmacist to furnish hypodermic needles and syringes for human use to a person 18 years of age or older. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law establishes the California Workforce Development Board as the body responsible for assisting the Governor in the development, oversight, and continuous improvement of California’s workforce investment system and the alignment of the education and workforce investment systems to the needs of the 21st century economy and workforce. Existing law requires the board to assist the Governor in certain activities, including the review and technical assistance of statewide policies, programs, and recommendations to support workforce development systems in the state, as specified.
This bill would require the board to study how to expand the workforce of mental health service providers who provide services to homeless persons.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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