Overview: Public Health Preparedness June 3, 2002

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Health Policy Tracking Service

State: Snapshot

Title: Overview: Public Health Preparedness

Date: 06/03/2002

In This Overview:

Three States Grant Authority to Order Compulsory Vaccination and Treatment

Iowa Board of Health Issues Notice of Action to Adopt Rules on "Biological Agent Risk Assessment"
Mathematical Model Provides New Insight in the Spread of Anthrax through Contaminated Mail
National Academies to Release First Phase of Counterterrorism Study This Summer
H.R. 3448, "The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act"
State Legislative Activity 2002

STATES IN SESSION

As of June 3, 16 states and the District of Columbia are in regular session. These states are California, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont.

STATES NOT CURRENTLY IN SESSION

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

STATES NOT HOLDING A 2002 SESSION

Arkansas, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon and Texas.

Three States Grant Authority to Order Compulsory Vaccination and Treatment

In what has turned out to be one of the most controversial issues concerning public health emergencies, three states-Arizona, Florida and Georgia-recently enacted legislation that grants state officials to the authority in certain situations to order compulsory vaccination and treatment, or to require isolation and quarantine when appropriate.

Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull, signed into law House Bill 2044 on May 23, 2002 and establishing the authority during a state of emergency for the governor in consultation with the Director of the Department of Health and where there is an imminent threat of smallpox, plague, viral hemorrhagic fevers or highly contagious and highly fatal disease with transmission characteristics similar to smallpox, to mandate treatment or vaccination of individuals who are diagnosed with illness after exposure or who are reasonably believed to have been exposed or who may be expected to be exposed. It also grants similar authority for issuing an order to isolate and quarantine individuals.

In Florida, Senate Bill 1262 empowers the State Health Officer to take actions such as ordering an individual to be examined, tested, vaccinated, treated, or quarantined for communicable diseases that present a danger to public health when a declaration of a public health emergency has occurred. It provides for individuals who are unable or unwilling to comply with such orders for reasons of health, religion or conscience by allowing them an option for quarantine.

Georgia Senate Bill 385 also empowers the Department of Human Resources to order compulsory vaccination and treatment of persons for infectious diseases in the case of a public health emergency. It also includes a provision that will allow for consideration of the opinion of a person's personal physician as to whether the vaccination is medically appropriate or advisable for that person. The act includes a provision that states in the absence of an immediate threat these provisions will not apply to any person who objects in writing on the grounds of a conflict with religious beliefs.

Iowa Board of Health Issues Notice of Action to Adopt Rules on "Biological Agent Risk Assessment"

The Iowa Board of Health released a notice of intended action May 8th that would produce a new rule with the intent of protecting state citizens from exposure to selected biologic agents that may be weaponized. The new rule establishes a bio-security council to advise the Public Health Department on bio-security issues and to recommend guidelines for surveillance and response. The new council's membership will consist of the following members:

the Director of the Department of Public Health,
the Governor's Homeland Security Advisor,
the Director of the State Hygienic Lab,
a representative from the FBI as made available by the director of the FBI or a
representative of the Secret Service as made available by the Director of the Secret Service,
a representative appointed by the Iowa Adjutant General,
a representative from the Attorney General's Office,
the Medical Director, Department of Public Health,
the Executive Director, Office of Disease Epidemiology and Disaster Preparedness, Department of Public Health,
a master or doctorate level microbiologist with expertise in human microbiology,
a master or doctorate level microbiologist with expertise in zoonosis, and
a biological safety professional.

The rule also establishes new requirements for laboratories, clinics, research facilities, commercial enterprise, or other entities that possess selected biological agents to complete and submit a biological agent risk assessment questionnaire to the Emergency Management Division of the Department of Public Defense annually. The questionnaire will be used to develop a critical asset protection plan. The criteria used to assess the biologic risk will be the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidelines and recommendations from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.

The rule grants the department with the authority to conduct an on-site examination of any premises containing select biologic agents with notice to the owner or management of the premises. An on-site examination will include each of the following components:

a review of laboratory safety and security policies and procedures,
a review of external and internal access to the premises,
a review of access controls to areas where select biological agents are used and stored,
a review of employee, student and visitor access to the premises, including the
identification required to access the premises and the method of recording access to the premises,
a review of background and security clearance measures implemented,
a review of the screening process for packages being brought into or taken out of the premises,
a review of the emergency plan,
a review of appropriate bio-containment within a laboratory,
a review of the training and knowledge of research staff;
a review of the process for reporting and investigating breach of security incidents,
a review of disposal procedures, and
a tour of the premises to view access security, select biological agent locations, storage, inventory, records, coding and database procedures.

The new rule will not be applicable to hospital laboratories that contain biological agents obtained from a patient culture as long as the culture is destroyed within seven days.

Any interested person is allowed to make comment or suggestions on the proposed rules until June 18th.

Source:http://idph.state.ia.us/dir_off/Board_of_Health/agenda_05-08-02.htm

Mathematical Model Provides New Insight in the Spread of Anthrax through Contaminated Mail

As described in the Vanderbilt News Releases May 13th, 2002. A mathematician at Vanderbilt, Glenn F. Webb, and an expert in infectious diseases at the New York University School of Medicine, chairman of the Department of Medicine and professor of microbiology at the NYU School of Medicine, Martin J. Blaser released a new mathematical model for determining the spread of anthrax through mail contamination.

The model, which is published in the May 14 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, simulates the recent outbreak of mail-borne anthrax deaths in the United States and demonstrates that all the known cases of infection can be explained by contamination spread through the mail from six original envelopes.

The analysis suggests that:

The original anthrax-laden letters may have cross contaminated as many as 5,000 other pieces of mail, but at such low levels that only two recipients died;
Because of the surprising amount of cross contamination involved, the greatest risk to society came from the exposures of postal workers and the recipients of cross-contaminated letters.
The elderly are at substantially greater risk from such attacks than the young and middle aged;
Rapid and widespread application of antibiotics among postal workers and the people in the immediate environment where the original letters were received probably averted a substantial number of additional infections;
Given the magnitude of the problem vaccination of all professional mail handlers may be advisable;
The model provides a framework that can be used for the rapid identification and containment of any future outbreaks.

Dr. Blaser became involved in the investigations of the cases of mail contamination that took place in New York last October. After the case of the woman in the Bronx emerged, which was apparently unrelated case of the woman in Connecticut two weeks later, says Blaser, "at that point I figured out that it's got to be mail and it's got to be a cross-contamination model."

Have collaborated in the past on other projects, Blaser consulted with Webb and the two agreed to try to develop a mathematical model that adequately explains the basic facts of the fall outbreak based on cross-contamination. The model would not prove that contaminated letters caused all the cases, but it would demonstrate that the explanation is feasible, the scientists say.

Since last October, 18 cases of anthrax infections have been reported. Of those cases, 11 were caused by inhalation of anthrax spores and seven were caused by cutaneous (skin) contact, five of the people who inhaled anthrax have died: a photo editor in Florida, two postal workers and two women who had no apparent association with the original letters.

How does the model work? It tracks contaminated letters through different nodes in the postal system. The first node is the point at which the letters enter the system, either mailbox or post office. Then the letters move to local postal stations. From there they are transported to regional stations and back to local stations before they are delivered. Each of the nodes is assigned a different level of risk of spreading anthrax spores depending on how the letters are handled.

The scientists found that the model provides the best match for the fall outbreak when they assume that there were six original letters, each carrying trillions of anthrax spores. They calculate that these letters, although tightly sealed, contaminated about 5,000 other letters with much smaller numbers of spores, ranging from 10 to 10,000 apiece.

This suggests that 5,000 recipients received cross-contaminated letters but the contamination level was so low that the exposure proved lethal in only two cases. It was probably no accident that the two victims were elderly. Evidence based on an accidental anthrax release in 1979 in Russia suggests that the fatality rate among the elderly is considerably higher than it is among the young and middle-aged, the researchers point out.

In the case of another mail-borne outbreak of anthrax, the model provides a framework that can be used to figure out what is going on more rapidly than would otherwise be possible. The modeling effort was supported by funds from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

Source: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/News/news/may02/nr13/default.htm

National Academies to Release First Phase of Counterterrorism Study This Summer

The National Academies announced that the first phase of a new vulnerabilities study should be released this summer. The information will focus on risks and research needs in key areas inclusive of; human, animal, and agricultural health systems; toxic chemicals and explosives; nuclear and radiological hazards; information technology; transportation and distribution systems; energy systems; cities and fixed infrastructure; people; and interdependent systems. The goal of the study is to assist the Bush administration in development of resources setting technical goals and improving interagency coordination.

Source: National Academy of Sciences http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/(ByDocID)/2673CD106339341785256BC800706404?OpenDocument

Federal Action

H.R. 3448, "The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act"

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved new legislation on May 22 designed to improve America's ability to respond effectively to bioterrorist threats and other public health emergencies. "The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act", H.R. 3448, authorizes more than $1.5 billion in grants to the states, local governments and other public, private health care facilities and other entities to improve planning and preparedness activities, enhance laboratory capacity, educate and train health personnel and to develop new drugs, therapies and vaccines.

The measure will create a new position deemed the Assistant Secretary for Emergency Preparedness to coordinate Health and Human Services activities under the new act. The bill also establishes an advisory committee on children and terrorism and also one on public health information and communication.

Other provisions in the measure include, but are not limited to:

requirements for the establishment of core curriculum materials for public health
emergencies, for the purpose of education and training of health care personnel,
establishment of a national system to help verify the licenses, credentials and
hospital privileges of health professionals who volunteer to respond during a public health emergency,
it authorizes a national stockpile or stockpile of drugs, vaccines, biologic products,
medical devices and supplies to meet health security needs,
establishes a national registry of biologic agents with the Department of Health and Human Services,

In a statement from the White House May 23rd, President Bush said "I applaud Members of both parties, including Congressman Tauzin and Dingell and Senators Kennedy, Gregg, and Frist, for acting on my proposals to protect Americans against bioterrorism. This legislation strengthens food safety and security, improves the ability of Federal, state, and local authorities to coordinate their response to possible bioterrorist attacks, and enhances surveillance and security over dangerous biological agents."

He added, "I commend the House and Senate for their hard work and look forward to signing this important bipartisan legislation into law."

Additional information on this bill may be viewed at http://energycommerce.house.gov/.

State Legislative Activity 2002

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State

Bills Introduced in 2002

Provisions in the Act Address

Status

H 1

Control of pharmaceutical shortages.

Introduced 1-8-2002

S 1400

Issuance of an Enhanced Surveillance Advisory
Patient Tracking
Laboratory Testing Requirements
Isolation and Quarantine Requirements
Due Process of Isolation and Quarantine
Public Health Authority Jurisdiction

Rereferred to House Committee 4/3/2002

H 2044

Quarantine and Sanitary Measures to Prevent Contagion
Enhanced Surveillance Advisories and Public Health Emergencies
Increased Reporting during Enhanced Surveillance Advisory
Patient Tracking during Enhanced Surveillance Advisory
Laboratory Testing during Enhanced Surveillance Advisory
Mandated treatment or vaccination
Public Health Authority during State of Emergency or State of War
Isolation and Quarantine during State of Emergency or State of War
Due Process for Isolation and Quarantine during State of Emergency or State of War

Enacted 5/23/2002

AB 1763

"Emergency Health Powers Act"

Disease Surveillance
Reporting Requirements
Information Dissemination
Control of Facilities
Treatment of Persons
Isolation and Quarantine
Collection of Specimens and Laboratory Testing

In Assembly Committee on Appropriations: Heard, remains in committee 5/22/2002

SB 1298

This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to identify federal and state funds that shall be used for purposes of building the capacities of local health departments to respond to and prepare for public health emergencies.

Passed Senate 5/20/2002

SB 1260

This bill would require the Children's Environmental Health Center within the Environmental Protection Agency to collect information on how to prepare for a biological or chemical terrorist attack and to take preparatory steps to ensure that children receive health care tailored to their unique health needs in the event of such an attack. It also requires the center to disseminate the collected information to health providers, including hospitals, hospital pediatric units, schools, and others.

Passed Senate 5/28/2002

S185

Empowers a Chief Medical Health Officer to conduct screening programs of populations who are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis or having latent tuberculosis infection, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and offer treatment as appropriate. The screening programs will not be implemented without the approval of the State Chief Medical Health Officer. Also empowers the Chief Medical Health Officer to issue a quarantine or isolation order to the patient with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis if the patient has ceased taking prescribed medications against medical advice.

To Governor 5/21/2002

H 5286

Control of Human Remains
Defines the Term Public Health Emergency
State Department Collaboration Directives
Confinement of Persons
Vaccination of Persons

Passed House to Senate 5/3/2002

S 359

Allows the Department of Public Health to procure and maintain a stockpile of supplies of potassium iodide tablets for use in the emergency planning surrounding the Millstone 3 nuclear power generating facility zone established by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Enrolled Special Act No. 02-06

H 5424

Inserts a new section in the statutes that requires that the Commissioners of Public Safety, Public Health, Children and Families, Mental Health and Addiction Services and Education jointly develop a plan that includes the special needs of children exposed to terrorism, including bioterrorism, and to strengthen emergency and rescue services for children to protect them from biological, chemical and toxic agents.

Enrolled Special Act No. 02-08

H 377

"Delaware Emergency Health Powers Act"

Duties of Health Care Providers to Report Medical Conditions
Reports of Prescription-Related Events
Reporting Requirements for Veterinarians
Disease Surveillance Requirements
Governor's Emergency Powers in a Public Health Emergency
Quarantine and Isolation
Protection of Personal Health Information
Public Health Emergency Plan

Passed House 5/2/2002

H 1579

Declaration of Public Health Emergency
Control of Prescriptive Drugs
Control of Licensed Health Professionals
Examination and Treatment of Persons
Quarantine Authority
Public Health Emergency Volunteer Staff

Died in Committee 3/22/2002

S 1264

Revises the rule making authority of the Department of Health to impose a quarantine. Addresses the declaration of a public health emergency.

Died on calendar 3/22/2002

H 507

Authority to direct state employed pharmacist compound bulk prescription drugs for treatment or prophylaxis.
Health care provider education requirements for treatment of conditions caused by NBC agents.
Practitioner registry.
Conditions for professional licensure renewal.

Died in messages 3/22/2002

S 1262

Issuance of a Public Health Advisory and grants the State Health Officer the authority to:

Direct Pharmaceutical Agent Distribution
Reactivate Health Professional Licensure in and Emergency
Order Compulsory Vaccination, Examination and Treatment

Chaptered 5/23/2002

H 27 e

Funds for Bioterrorism Research

From non-recurring Operations and Maintenance Trust Funds in Specific Appropriation 547, $1,000,000 is provided to the Institute for Infectious Disease at the University of South Florida. These funds will be used with federal funds for bioterrorism research to develop infectious disease public policy and provide first-response training and education for biological defense.

To Enrollment 5/13/2002

S 385

Reporting Requirements
Disease Surveillance
Compulsory Vaccination
Isolation and Segregation
Reporting and Identification of Deceased Persons
Coordination of Public Health Emergency

Enacted 5/16/2002

H 2795

S 3053

Establishes a public health nursing branch program to be administered by the department of health and to mobilize the department's nursing resources and respond to catastrophic and traumatic emergency events, including natural disasters (for example, tsunami, hurricane, flooding) and biologic outbreak or exposure.

Additionally referred to House Committee on Labor and Public Employment 01/30/2002

In House, Read Final Time, Conference Committee draft adopted by House. 4/30/2002

S 2779

H 2521

Grants authority to DOH to establish public-private sector health care workforce collaborative agreements.

Authorizes the Public Health Authority to:

Enter into public-sector private-sector collaborative agreements for provision of epidemic care.

Passed Senate 3/5/2002

In House, Read Final Time, Conference Committee draft adopted by House. 4/30/2002

H 3809

S 1529

"Emergency Health Powers Act"

Planning for a Public Health Emergency
Measures to Detect and Track Public Health Emergencies
Declaring State of Public Health Emergency
Special Powers During State of Public Health Emergency: Management of Property
Safe Disposal of Infectious Waste and Human Remains

Rereferred to House Committee on Rules 4/5/2002

To Senate Committee on Rules 11/13/2001

Control of Health Supplies
Special Powers during a State of Public Health Emergency; Protection of Persons
Collection of Laboratory Specimens
Disclosure of Protected Health Information
Powers Regarding Licensing and Appointment of Health Personnel
Public Information Regarding Public Health Emergencies

S 1717

Amends existing law by requiring the Director of Public Health to appoint a person with expertise in bioterrorism issues to the Immunization Advisory Committee. The function of the committee is to advise the director on immunization issues.

To Governor 5/16/2002

S 2207

Requires that the Department of Public Health conduct 3 public hearings, geographically distributed throughout the State, before any regulation or any amendment to a regulation is adopted if it pertains to a new vaccine requirement or makes substantial changes in the language of the religious or medical objection exemptions to immunization.

Rereferred to Senate Committee on Rules 3/08/2002

EO 10

An executive order that establishes the Kansas Bioterrorism Coordinating Council and the Kansas Hospital Preparedness Planning Committee.

Introduced 3/29/2002

H 370

"Model State Emergency Health Powers Act"

Public Health Emergency Planning Commission
Measures to Detect and Track Public Health Emergencies
Sharing of Information
Declaring a State of Public Health Emergency
Public Health Personnel Identification
Special Powers During a State of Public Health Emergency: Management of Property

To House Committee on State Government 1/17/2002

Special Powers During a State of Public Health Emergency: Protection of Persons
Access to Protected Health Information
Authority over Health Professionals
Public Information Regarding Public Health Emergency
Information Dissemination

H 88

Powers of the Division of Emergency Management.
Assessment of Public Health Preparedness
Departmental Collaboration

Recommitted to Senate Committee on Appropriations and Revenue 4/2/2002

H 108

Kentucky Core Public Health Act

Authorizes the Department for Public Health to develop and operate all programs for assessing the health status of the population, for the promotion of health, and for the prevention of disease, injury, disability, and premature death.

Passed House 2/5/2002

H 91a

Immunization Registry

Adds new language to existing law that provides that the general consent for treatment and release of information to other providers or to the office of public health will be considered parental consent for sharing historical, current, and future immunization information.

Provides that in the event of a public health emergency as declared by the State Health Officer, including a natural disaster, bioterrorist attack, epidemic, or other event affecting the public health, the requirement to obtain consent for placement on a registry will be waived for mass immunizations performed in response to the declaration

Enacted 4/18/2002

S 519

Health Facility Decontamination Capability

To Senate Committee on Finance 2/01/2002

H 296

Catastrophic Health Emergencies

Declaration and Response
Disease Surveillance Program
Health Care Facilities Contingency Plans
Health Care Provider Reporting Requirements
Investigation and Response
Department Collaboration Directives

Vetoed by Governor-Duplicative 5/15/2002

H 303

Provides authority to the Secretary of Health to adopt rules and regulations necessary to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious or contagious disease in the state. Also requires the Secretary to investigate all suspected cases as deemed appropriate and take action as required.

Enacted 4/9/2002

H 361

Biological Agents Registry Program.

Enacted 5/6/2002

H 1656

Establishes procedures for:

Disposition of Human Remains
Declaration of a Public Health Emergency

Establishes emergency health powers allowing the department to have immediate access to any health information from a medical provider related to a notifiable disease or a communicable disease not subject to departmental reporting requirements and that the department has determined a health risk, take any person into temporary custody and order specific emergency care, vaccination, treatment or evaluation of that person.

Enacted-Public Law 4/11/2002

H 2619

"State Emergency Health Powers Act"

Reporting Qualifying Illnesses and Health Conditions
Identification and Disease Surveillance
Information Sharing
Standards for Declaration of State of Public Health Emergency
Identification of Public Health Personnel
Control of Facilities and Property
Powers regarding Disposal of Infectious Waste and Human Remains
Control of Health Facilities
Control of Persons During a Public Health Emergency
Quarantine Authority
Required Vaccination and Treatment
Collection of Laboratory Specimens; Performance of Tests
Access and Disclosure of Patient Health Information
Designation, Licensing and Appointment of Health Personnel
Liability Exemptions
Dissemination of Information Regarding Public Health Emergency
Access to Mental Health Personnel
Planning for Public Health Emergency

To House Committee on Health and Human Services Policy 1/29/2002

H 3031

"Minnesota Emergency Health Powers Act",

Disposition of Human Remains
Isolation and Quarantine
Study of Emergency Health Powers Issues

Enacted 5/22/2002

S 2669

"Minnesota Emergency Health Powers Act", contains similar provisions as in House Bill 2619.

Indefinitely Postponed 3/26/2002 see H 3031

S 2683

Provides that the Commissioner of Public Safety may award grants to state agencies and local and tribal units of government for costs, including reimbursement of costs, related to emergency preparedness training for:

law enforcement,
fire,
ambulance,
medical personnel, and
agencies.

From Senate Committee on Finance: Do pass as amended.03/21/2002

H 2622

H 2846

H 2619

H 2848

H2778

The Minnesota Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002

Biologic Agent Registry

To Conference Committee 3/22/2002

Rereferred to House Committee on Crime Prevention 2/11/2002

S 712

"Missouri State Emergency Health Powers Act"

Reportable Diseases
Prescriptive-related Events
Disease Surveillance
Exchange of Information
Declaration of a Public Health Emergency
Special Public Health Authority Emergency Powers
Quarantine Authority
Powers Over Persons
Chain-of-Custody for Laboratory Specimens
Access to Health Information
Licensing of Health Personnel
Referrals to Mental Health Support
Public Health Emergency Planning Commission

To Governor 5/28/2002

S 1000

Reporting Requirements
Out-of-State Laboratories
Penalties for Violations of Law
Mental Health Support

To Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare 1/28/2002

S 983

H 1947

Establishes a joint committee of the general assembly to be known as the "Joint Committee on Terrorism, Bioterrorism, and Homeland Security".

Requires registration of biological agents with the Department of Health and Senior Services by January 1, 2003

Introduced 1/21/2002

From House Committee on Children, Families and Health: Voted do pass as substituted 04/18/2002

S 2737

Release of Medical Information
Reporting Requirements
Penalties for Violation of Law
Special Public Health Emergency Powers
Prescription-related Events

Died in Committee 3/5/2002

L 1224

"Emergency Health Powers Act"

Homeland Security Policy Commission
Public Health Emergency Plan
Disease Surveillance
Information Sharing
Declaration of a State of Emergency
Public Health Authority Powers
Public Health Personnel Identification
Public Notification

Indefinitely Postponed 4/19/2002

H 1478

Public Health Emergency Preparation and Response Act

Investigation and Examination Authority and Requirements
Isolation and Quarantine Procedures
Authority to Access and Disclosure to Patient Records
Authority to Dispose of Human Remains
Authority to Control Pharmaceutical Agents
Reporting Requirements
Authority to Control Facilities

Enacted 5/2/2002

A 1773

Public Health Emergency Planning Commission
Public Health Emergency Response Plan

To Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services 2/11/2002

A 4060

"Public health Preparedness Act"

Appointment of Lead Local Health Agency

To Assembly Committee on Appropriations 12/20/2002

S 1042

Establishes the Public Health Emergency Planning Commission in the Department of Health and Senior Services requires the development of a public health emergency response plan.

To Senate Committee on Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens 2/21/2002

A 1886

This bill requires the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to conduct a study of the feasibility of establishing a State pharmaceutical stockpile in preparation for a public health emergency resulting from an act of bioterrorism or the appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin, or widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent, which poses a significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people in this State.

To Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services 2/21/2002

A 1955

Public Health Protection Services - Appropriates $27,242,400 for expansion of bioterrorism response capabilities.

Enacted 4/24/2002

A 2188

This bill provides that during a public health emergency, the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services will be authorized to take actions as the commissioner determines necessary to ensure an adequate supply of medicines and other pharmaceutical supplies at acute care hospitals and nursing homes throughout the State. The bill would permit the commissioner to direct the reallocation of supplies among acute care hospitals and nursing homes as the commissioner determines necessary to provide for the most effective and efficient means of protecting the public health.

Passed Assembly 05/20/2002

A 1968

S 1225

Requires registration of biologic agents with the Department of Health and Senior Services.

To Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and State Preparedness 3/04/2002

To Senate Committee on Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens 2/28/2002

H 195

Reporting of Contagious Diseases
Detention of Infected Persons

Enacted 3/5/2002

A 9508

"State Emergency Health Powers Act"

Reporting
Information Sharing
Tracking
Declaration of Emergency
Coordination
Identification of Public Health Personnel
Access to and Control of Facilities and Property
Safe Disposal of Infectious Waste and Human Remains
Control of Health Supplies
Control of Individuals
Mandatory Medical Examinations
Isolation and Quarantine
Vaccination and Treatment
Collection of Laboratory Specimens
Access and Disclosure of Patient Records
Licensing and Appointment of Department Personnel
Information Dissemination
Planning for Public Health Emergency

Amended in Assembly Committee on Health 3/5/2002

S 5841

"State Emergency Health Powers Act" contains similar provisions as in A 9508.

Amended in Senate Committee on Health 3/4/2002

S 1659

Establishes the Oklahoma Public Health Emergency Planning Task Force .

Passed House 4/9/2002

H 2765

"Catastrophic Emergency Health Powers Act"

Requires Establishment of Public Health Emergency Planning Commission
Requires Development of a State Plan
Requirements for Reporting of Diseases
Disease Investigation Directives

Enacting clause restored 5/17/2002

Conference Committee report adopted by House 5/21/2002

H 2764

Provides the Public Health Authority the Power to:

Control Facilities
Coordinate Response Activities
Planning and Execution of Response
Control Disposal of Infectious Waste and Human Remains
Control of Persons with Treatment or Isolation and Quarantine
Control Licensing and Appointment of Health Personnel

Passed House 3/6/2002

H 2261

Reporting Requirements
Tracking
Information Sharing
Standards for Declaration of a Public Health Emergency
Coordination
Identification of Public Health Personnel
Special Emergency Powers
Isolation and Quarantine
Vaccination and Treatment
Collection of Laboratory Specimens
Access and Disclosure of Patient Records
Licensing and Appointment of Health Personnel
Access to Mental Health Support Personnel
Public Health Emergency Planning Commission

To House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness 1/02/2002

S 313

Provides a new list of communicable diseases that must be reported.

To Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare. 02/06/2001

H 2371

Authority Granted to County Departments of Health inclusive of:

Public Health Emergency Response
Public Health Monitoring
Public Health Assessment
Outlines Grants to County Departments of Health

Introduced 2/12/2002

S 1338

Emergency Health Powers Procedures
Measures to Detect and Track Potential and Existing Threats
Declaration of a State of Emergency
Control of Property and Supplies
Control of Persons
Public Information Dissemination Requirements
Planning Directives

Introduced 3/11/2002

H 2319

Establishes a toll-free telephone hotline that is accessible 24 hours per day and seven days per week for Pennsylvania residents to obtain information about emergencies and safety issues that will include notices related to the Department of Health, weather-related information, state emergency information and reported terrorism and bioterrorism alerts and instructions. The agency will also provide for a system in which callers may offer feedback on State emergency observations.

To House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness 1/30/2002

H 2394

Requires the Department of Health to establish Public State Health Centers in the county seats of each county in the Commonwealth to ensure that residents may receive basic health care services provided by those state health centers in effect as of July 1, 1995, including immunizations, sexually transmitted disease testing and counseling, tuberculosis screening, and other services for the prevention and suppression of disease and to assist local public officials in providing information and coordinating the response and services regarding incidents or concerns with bioterrorism.

To House Committee on Health and Human Services 3/8/ 2002

EO7

Mark S. Schweiker, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania directs that all state agencies implement emergency preparedness plans for their internal operations. Requires that the plans include actions that each agency will take to ensure continuity of their essential operations in the event of a short or long term emergency. The plans must be consistent with agency responsibilities outlined in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Emergency Operations Plan maintained by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

Introduced 3/22/2002

H 7563

" Rhode Island Emergency Health Powers Act"

Reporting
Tracking
Privacy
Declaration of Public Health Emergency
Local Authority
Use of Products
Medical Examinations
Isolation and Quarantine
Vaccination and Treatment
Collection of Specimens
Access and Disclosure of Patient Records
Licensing and Appointment of Health Personnel
Information Dissemination
Public Health Emergency Planning

To House Committee on Finance 2/05/2002

S 2865

This act would establish the state emergency health powers act. This act would provide the department of health with certain emergency powers in the event of a health emergency, including but not limited to an act of bioterrorism.

To Senate Committee on Health Education and Welfare 3/7/2002

H 6981

Provides that the Director must develop and adopt by rule and regulation a plan to protect the public health during a vaccine shortage

Passed House 4/10/200

H 1304

H 1303

Declaration of a Public Health Emergency
Authority and Responsibility
County Boards of Health
Handling of Human Remains

Revises the authority of the Governor to handle an event of a disaster, war or act of terrorism, adding;

Control of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
Control of Out-of-State Health Care Providers
Control of Human Remains

Enacted 2/22/2002

Enacted 2/27/2002

S 2392

"Tennessee Emergency Health Powers Act"

Establishes the Public Health Emergency Advisory Committee
Establishes the Hospital Bio-preparedness Planning Committee

Enacted 5/22/2002

H 2271

" Tennessee Emergency Health Powers Act", contains similar provisions as in S 2392.

Substituted on House floor by S2392 4/10/2002

H 2473

Requires the Division of Laboratories to maintain three Level III laboratories, one in each division of the state. Each laboratory must be capable of analyzing various biological agents, including but not limited to bacillus anthracis (anthrax), that could potentially be used in a terrorist attack, as well as performing other duties to assist the Department and Health Professionals in protecting the public health.

In House Committee on Health and Human Resources: Rereferred to Subcommittee on Health 3/27/2002

H 231

"Detection of Public Health Emergency Act"

Reporting Requirements
Investigation of Suspected Bio-terrorism or Disease
Information Sharing

Enacted 3/18/2002

H 146

H 664

Requires registry of microbes and pathogens with the Department of Health.

List of Reportable Diseases
Reports by Physicians and Laboratory Directors
Immunity from Liability
Surveillance and Investigation
Emergency Rules and Regulations

Enacted 3/4/2002

Enacted 4/17/2002

S 298

Reporting Illnesses Associated with Bioterrorism

Passed House 5/16/2002

H 2854

Designates the Department of Health and Human Services as the coordinator of the State Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program. Requires the department to prepare a plan for improving current preparedness and response for a bioterrorist event or other public health emergency by July 2, 2002.

From Senate Committee on Health and Long-Term Care: Do pass. 03/01/2002

A 849

A 850

Public Health Authorities Concerning:

Disposal of Human Remains
Control of Pharmaceutical agents and medical supplies
Compulsory Vaccination
Isolation and Quarantine
Reporting of Diseases

Failure to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

Failure to pass pursuant to Senate Jt. Resolution 1

S 208

"West Virginia Bio-terrorism Threat Reduction Act"

List of Selected Biological Agents and Toxins to be Published in the State Register
Certification Process for Possession, Use and Transfer of Biologic Agents

To Senate Committee on Judiciary 1/15/2002

S 67

Right to appeal quarantine
Mandatory Treatment
State Agency Collaboration

Passed Senate 2/28/2002

Source: Health Policy Tracking Service, National Conference of State Legislatures, June 3, 2002.

For further information contact Rachel Morgan at rachel.morgan@ncsl.org or by phone in NCSL's Washington D.C. office at 202-624-3569.