Overview: Public Health Preparedness

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Health Policy Tracking Service

State: Snapshot

Title: Overview: Public Health Preparedness

Date: 05/06/2002

In This Overview:

Registration of Biologic Agents

Louisiana Legislature Amends Consent for Treatment and Immunization Tracking

Registry Requirements

California Legislature Considers the Needs of Children in a Biologic or Chemical

Event

State Legislative Activity 2002

STATES IN SESSION

As of May 6, 25 states plus the District of Columbia are in regular session. These states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin. Florida and Kentucky are in special session.

STATES NOT CURRENTLY IN SESSION

Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

STATES NOT HOLDING A 2002 SESSION

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

Registration of Biologic Agents

As an initial community protection effort, several states have either introduced or enacted legislation requiring the registration of biologic agents present with various types of community entities. Generally biological agent is defined as meaning:

(1) any select agent that is a microorganism, virus, bacterium, fungus, rickettsia, or toxin listed in title 42, part 72, appendix a of the Code of Federal Regulations;

(2) any genetically modified microorganisms or genetic elements from an organism listed in title 42, part 72, appendix a of the Code of Federal Regulations, shown to produce or encode for a factor associated with a disease; or

(3) any genetically modified microorganisms or genetic elements that contain nucleic acid sequences coding for any of the toxins listed in title 42, part 72, appendix a of the Code of Federal Regulations, or their toxic submits.

The states considering these requirements include Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, and West Virginia. Maryland and Virginia have already enacted legislation making these reports mandatory. The Maryland law will be defined by regulations adopted by the Department of Health and become effective October 1, 2002. In Virginia, the law simply requires all laboratories to report any inventory of a dangerous microbe and or pathogen on an annual basis.

For most of the bills introduced in 2002, responsible entities are required to report missing agents within a certain timeframe to the prevailing health authority. The Missouri law in consideration adds an additional requirement for reporting releases of these agents.

In addition to the reporting requirements outlined in the bills, many contain civil penalties that would be imposed if the entities or persons that possess the agents violate the new requirements.

Biological Agent Registration Bills 2002

State	Bills Introduced in 2002 Requiring Registration of Biological Agents	Civil Penalties Imposed by the Act	Status
MD	H 361	None	Eligible for Governor's Desk 4/5/2002
MN	H 2846	Fines up to $1000.	Rereferred to House Committee on Crime Prevention 2/11/2002
MO	H 1947	Civil penalties up to $1000. Each day of a continuing violation of this action will constitute a separate offense.	From House Committee on Children, Families and Health: Vote do pass as substituted.
NJ	A 1968	Not to exceed $5,000 for first offense and not to exceed $10,000 for subsequent offenses.	To Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and State Preparedness 3/4/2002
	S 1225		To Senate Committee on Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens
VA	H 146	None	Signed by Governor 3/4/2002
WV	S 208	Civil penalty not to exceed $5000 for each day of the violation to be recovered in a civil action either in the circuit court of the county in which the violation occurs or in the circuit court of Kanawha County. The secretary may also seek injunctive or other appropriate relief.	To Senate Committee on Judiciary 1/15/2002

Louisiana Legislature Amends Consent for Treatment and Immunization Tracking Registry Requirements

Legislators in Louisiana amended current law pertaining to parental consent for treatment and release of information with the enactment of House Bill 91a April 18, 2002. The act removes provisions that prohibit the inclusion of a child's name on an immunization registry without the consent of the child's parent or guardian.

New language has been added that establishes a general consent for treatment and release of information to other providers or to the office of public health as being considered parental consent for sharing historical, current, and future immunization information. In addition, each immunization provider must comply with at least one of the following requirements:

(a) Place a poster in the patient registration area notifying parents that the site is participating in the state immunization registry and that childhood data is being shared with the registry.

(b) Provide each parent a brochure supplied by the office of public health describing the purposes of the registry and notifying parents that they can prohibit data sharing by notifying the health care provider not to submit their child's immunization information.

The act also provides that in the event of a public health emergency declared by the State Health Officer, which would include 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.

California Legislature Considers the Needs of Children in a Biologic or Chemical Event

The California Senate Committee on Appropriations recently held a hearing concerning Senate Bill 1260 which would require the Children's Environmental Health Center, within the Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), in collaboration with the Department of Health Services (DHS) to collect up-to-date information on how to prepare for a biological or chemical terrorist attack, coordinate preparatory efforts to protect the health of children in the event of an attack, and take preparatory steps to ensure that children receive health care tailored to their unique health needs in the event of an attack. This measure also requires the center to disseminate the collected information to health providers, including hospitals, hospital pediatric units, schools and others.

In a press release issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is made clear that children are particularly vulnerable in these situations and they provide a listing of the reasons disaster preparedness must be particularly tailored with these considerations in mind:

Children are more susceptible to aerosolized biological or chemical agents because they breathe more times per minute than adults, meaning they would get relatively larger doses of the substance in the same period of time. Also, because some agents, (e.g., sarin and chlorine) are heavier than air, they accumulate close to the ground - right in the breathing zone of children.

Children are more vulnerable to agents that act on or through the skin because their skin is thinner and they have a larger surface-to-mass ratio than adults.

Children are more vulnerable to the effects of agents that produce vomiting or diarrhea because they have less fluid reserve than adults, increasing the risk of rapid dehydration.

Children have smaller circulating blood volumes than adults, so without rapid intervention, relatively small amounts of blood loss can quickly tip the physiologic scale from reversible shock to profound, irreversible shock or death.

Children have significant developmental vulnerabilities not shared by adults. Infants, toddlers, and young children do not have the motor skills to escape from the site of a chemical, biological, or other terrorist incident. Even if they are able to walk, young children may not have the cognitive ability to figure out how to flee from danger or to follow directions from others.

Once children are critically ill or injured, their bodies will respond differently than adults in similar medical crises. Consequently, pediatric treatment needs are unique in a number of ways:

Children need different dosages of medicine than adults - not only because they are smaller, but also because certain drugs and biologicals may have effects on developing children that are not of concern for the adult population.

Children need different sized equipment than adults. Because children have smaller bodies, they require smaller equipment. From needles and tubing, to oxygen masks and ventilators, to imaging and lab technology, children need equipment that has been specifically designed for their size.

Children demand special consideration during decontamination efforts. Because children lose body heat more quickly than adults, skin decontamination showers that are safe for adults may result in hypothermia in children unless heating lamps or other warming equipment is provided.

Testifying before the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensins and Subcommittee on Children and Families, Dr. Joseph L. Wright, MD, MPH, FAAP on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics offered the following as part of his statement:

"Obviously, children need different sized equipment than adults. Their veins are smaller, so small needles and tubing are needed. Smaller masks are needed to administer oxygen, and so on.

At present, many ambulances and emergency departments do not have child-sized equipment and supplies, such as oxygen masks, IV-tubes, and neck braces. In fact, fewer than half of hospitals with emergency departments have the necessary equipment for stabilization of ill and injured children. And few states require that advanced life-support ambulances -- whose personnel can start IVs, administer medications, and insert airway tubes -- carry all equipment needed to stabilize a child."

The American Academy of Pediatricians has issued a full list of recommendations for consideration by officials that is listed on their web sight at http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/cad.htm.

State Legislative Activity 2002

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
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

Passed Senate to House 4/25/2002

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

From Assembly Committee on Government Organization: Do Pass to Committee on Appropriations 4/22/2002

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.

In Senate Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Committee on Rules. 03/13/2002

H 5286

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

Reported out of Legislative Committee Office 4/25/2002

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.

House adopted House amendment Schedule A 4/29/2002

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

To House Committee on Appropriations 3/26/2002

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

Passed House 3/22/2002

S 385

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

In Senate - Senate concurred with House amendments 4/12/2002

H 2795

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

S 3053

From Conference Committee: Do Pass as amended in Conference Draft 1 4/24/2002

S 2779

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

Passed Senate 3/5/2002

H 2521

Authorizes the Public Health Authority to:

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

From Conference Committee Do Pass as amended in Conference Draft 1 4/25/2002

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 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

H 108

Powers of the Division of Emergency Management.
Assessment of Public Health Preparedness
Departmental Collaboration 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 1/24/2002

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

H 296

Health Facility Decontamination Capability

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

To Senate Committee on Finance 2/01/2002

Eligible for Governor's desk 4/05/2002

H 303

H 361

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.

Biological Agents Registry Program.

Signed by Governor 4/9/2002

Eligible for Governor's desk 4/5/2002

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.

Signed by Governor 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

S 2669

H 2622

H 2846

H 2619

H 2848

H2778

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

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

The Minnesota Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002

Biologic Agent Registry

Passed Senate 4/3/2002

Indefinitely Postponed 3/26/2002 see H 3031

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

Passed Senate 2/20/2002

S 1000

S 983

H 1947

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

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

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

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

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

Passed Senate 4/16/2002

A 1773

A 4060

S 1042

Public Health Emergency Planning Commission
Public Health Emergency Response Plan

"Public health Preparedness Act"

Appointment of Lead Local Health Agency

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

To Assembly Committee on Appropriations 12/20/2002

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

A 1886

A 1955

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.

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

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

Signed by Governor 4/24/2002

A 2188

A 1968

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.

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

To Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services 3/26/2002

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

S 1225

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

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

H 195

Reporting of Contagious Diseases
Detention of Infected Persons

Signed by Governor 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

H 2765

H 2764

Establishes the Oklahoma Public Health Emergency Planning Task Force.

"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

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 4/9/2002

Passed Senate 4/22/2002

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

S 1338

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
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 2/12/2002

Introduced 3/11/2002

H 2319

H 2394

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.

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 Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness 1/30/2002

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

H 6981

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.

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

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

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

Signed by Governor 2/22/2002

Signed by Governor 2/27/2002

S 2392

"Tennessee Emergency Health Powers Act"

Public Health Emergency Planning Commission
Reporting Requirements
Disease Surveillance
Sharing of Information
Declaration of a Public Health Emergency
Public Health Authority Responsibility
Identification of Public Health Personnel
Public Health Authority Powers
Isolation and Quarantine
Protected Health Information
Collection of Laboratory Specimens
Licensing of Health Personnel

Passed House 4/10/2002

H 2271

H 2473

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

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.

Substituted on House floor by S2392 4/10/2002

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

Signed by Governor 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

Signed by Governor 3/4/2002

Eligible for Governor's Desk 3/9/2002

S 298

Reporting Illnesses Associated with Bioterrorism

Passed Senate 4/16/2002

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, May 2002.

Contact HPTS at (202) 624-3569 for further information and questions.

No parts of this publication may be reproduced, reprinted or republished without the Health Policy Tracking Services' written permission and appropriate attribution.