A city and county, or a county, or a city with or without a health department, that acts to authorize a clean needle and syringe exchange project pursuant to this chapter shall, in consultation with the State Department of Health Services, authorize the exchange of clean hypodermic needles and syringes, as recommended by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, subject to the availability of funding, as part of a network of comprehensive services, including treatment services, to combat the spread of HIV and blood-borne hepatitis infection among injection drug users. Providers participating in an exchange project authorized by the county, city, or city and county pursuant to this chapter shall not be subject to criminal prosecution for possession of needles or syringes during participation in an exchange project.