Sen. Chuck Levesque accepts award from Dr. David Gifford (GA press photo)

Portsmouth state Sen. Chuck Levesque received the James E. Carney Award from the RI Dept. of Health for his work in passing legislation to expand HIV testing in the state, according to a release from the general assembly. Levesque and Rep. Eileen Naughton who sponsored the legislation were thanked by Health Dept. Director David Gifford, MD, MPH for their work.

“Effective public policy is a cornerstone of public health,” said Gifford. “We are grateful for the hard work of Representative Naughton and Senator Levesque as they have worked to assure that HIV/AIDS statutes are up to date and are reflective of the current medical and social status of those affected by these diseases. Their dedication helps guide the work of our programs, medical community, and community-based organizations.”

The bill sponsored by Levesque and Naughton makes HIV tests a routine part of testing offered to Rhode Islanders and relaxes a previous rule requiring special written consent. Testing can now be carried out with spoken consent, aligning it with other tests in the state, as well as federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) standards.

The change will result in increased testing in emergency rooms, and was the result of a joint commission, co-chaired by the two legislators, aimed at crafting legislation to prevent the transmission of HIV and AIDS.

Editorial note: Written from general assembly press release.