Through the diligent work of the American Nurses Association, a tremendous victory was achieved when the federal "Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act" was signed into law on 11/6/00.

This year, states have introduced legislation to strengthen needlestick protections. States without state OSHA plans have introduced legislation to cover state and municipal employees who are not covered by the "Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act." States with state OSHA plans have introduced legislation to strengthen needlestick protections by pushing for requirements beyond the federal needlestick law.

Legislation passed this year in NV will require presumptive eligibility coverage under workers compensation for diseases contracted through employment. Because there is such a long interval between exposure to and diagnosis of HIV and Hepatitis C, many health care workers are denied workers compensation benefits for their illness resulting from a needlestick injury. This legislation would presume the infection stemmed from a needlestick injury related to employment allowing workers receive benefits under workers comp.