Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Health and Human Services To Advance the Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs To Protect Health Care Personnel
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1599
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: PRINGLE, FARNSWORTH, GRAHAM, SANBORN

Legislative Document 
No. 1599 
H.P. 1170 
House of Representatives, December 30, 2013 
Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Health and Human Services 
To Advance the Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs To Protect 
Health Care Personnel 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 23, 2013.  Referred to the Committee on 
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint 
Rule 401. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative PRINGLE of Windham. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: FARNSWORTH of Portland, GRAHAM of North 
Yarmouth, SANBORN of Gorham. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, antineoplastic drugs are a known hazard to which health care personnel 
are being exposed; and 
Whereas, it is desirable to provide health care personnel protection from these drugs 
as soon as possible; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1.  Commissioner of Health and Human Services to adopt rules. 
Resolved:  That the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall adopt rules to 
establish an occupational safety and health standard for the handling of antineoplastic 
drugs in health care facilities regardless of the setting. In developing the standard, the 
commissioner shall consider input from hospitals; practicing physicians from affected 
specialties, including oncology; organizations representing health care personnel, 
including registered nurses and pharmacists; and other stakeholders and shall determine a 
reasonable time for facilities to implement new requirements imposed by the adopted 
standard. The standard, to the extent feasible, must be consistent with and not exceed 
recommendations in the United States Department of Health and Human Services, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety 
and Health 2004 alert entitled "Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and 
Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings," as updated in 2010. The standard may 
incorporate applicable updates and changes to National Institute for Occupational Safety 
and Health guidelines. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules 
as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve requires the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to adopt by 
rule a standard for the handling of antineoplastic drugs in health care facilities regardless 
of the setting. The resolve requires the standard to be consistent with and not exceed 
specific recommendations adopted by the United States Department of Health and 
Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health for preventing occupational exposures to those drugs in 
health care settings.