NCJ Number
200289
Date Published
April 2003
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Based on the recommendations of Wisconsin's Special Committee on the Public Health System's Response to Terrorism and Public Health Emergencies, this report presents the pertinent legislation introduced by the Joint Legislative Council in the 2003-04 Session of the Wisconsin Legislature.
Abstract
Wisconsin Senate Bill 120, which stemmed from the recommendations of the Special Committee on the Public Health System's Response to Terrorism and Public Health Emergencies, creates a Public Health Council in the State's Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) to monitor implementation of the State's 10-year public health plan, as well as coordination of responses to public health emergencies. The bill also provides for the reimbursement of local health departments for their costs in quarantining persons during the period of a public health emergency declared by the governor. Further, the bill established a statewide system of mutual aid for emergency management programs, emergency medical services programs, fire departments, and local health departments during periods of emergency. In addition, the bill requires the use of the incident command system, a functional management system for assigning responsibilities of various parties during emergencies, by all emergency response agencies in responding to emergency situations, as well as the inclusion of local government officials and local health department personnel in incident command training. The bill also provides immunity from liability for persons who act under the direction of DHFS or a local health department during the period of a public health emergency declared by the governor in which DHFS is designated as the lead State agency. The bill provides punishment for those who threaten to release or disseminate chemical, biological, or radioactive substances. One section of this report reviews the mandate of the Special Committee and summarizes its four meetings in 2002. Special Committee recommendations are detailed in another part of the report. Appended Special Committee and Joint Legislative Council votes, lists of members of the Joint Legislative Council and the Special Committee, and the Special Committee materials list