AB850: Bill Text Engrossed

AB850-engrossed,8,21 36.25 (11) (em) The laboratory of hygiene board shall create and maintain a roster of scientists and other persons with technical expertise who are willing to work for the laboratory of hygiene if the governor declares that an emergency related to public health exists. If the governor declares such an emergency, the laboratory of hygiene board shall hire as limited-term employees the requisite number of persons from the roster to assist the department of health and family services under s. 250.042. Salaries, benefits, and training of these employees shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.285 (1) (fg).

AB850-engrossed, s. 11d Section 11d. 50.36 (3d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,8,25 50.36 (3d) (a) A hospital shall develop and maintain a system under which the hospital may grant emergency staff privileges to a health care provider, as defined in s. 146.81 (1), to whom all of the following apply:

AB850-engrossed,9,3 1. The health care provider seeks to provide care at the hospital during a period of a state of emergency related to public health declared by the governor under s. 166.03 (1) (b) 1.

AB850-engrossed,9,6 2. The health care provider does not have staff privileges at the hospital at the time that the state of emergency related to public health is declared by the governor under s. 166.03 (1) (b) 1.

AB850-engrossed,9,7 3. The health care provider has staff privileges at another hospital.

AB850-engrossed,9,10 (b) A hospital that grants emergency staff privileges under par. (a) has immunity from civil liability for acts or omissions by a health care provider who is granted emergency staff privileges under par. (a).

AB850-engrossed, s. 12 Section 12. 95.22 of the statutes is renumbered 95.22 (1).

AB850-engrossed, s. 13 Section 13. 95.22 (2) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,9,14 95.22 (2) The department shall provide the reports of any communicable diseases under sub. (1) to the department of health and family services.

AB850-engrossed, s. 14 Section 14. 157.055 of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,9,17 157.055 Disposal of human remains during state of emergency relating to public health. (1) In this section:

AB850-engrossed,9,18 (a) "Funeral establishment" has the meaning given in s. 445.01 (6).

AB850-engrossed,9,19 (b) "Public health authority" has the meaning given in s. 250.01 (6g).

AB850-engrossed,9,23 (2) Notwithstanding ss. 69.18 (4), 445.04 (2), 445.14, 979.01 (3), (3m), and (4), 979.02, and 979.10, during a period of a state of emergency related to public health declared by the governor under s. 166.03 (1) (b) 1., a public health authority may do all of the following:

AB850-engrossed,10,3 (a) Issue and enforce orders that are reasonable and necessary to provide for the safe disposal of human remains, including by embalming, burial, cremation, interment, disinterment, transportation, and other disposal.

AB850-engrossed,10,4 (b) Take possession and control of any human remains.

AB850-engrossed,10,9 (c) Order the disposal, through burial or cremation, of any human remains of an individual who has died of a communicable disease, within 24 hours after the individual's death and consider, to the extent feasible, the religious, cultural, or individual beliefs of the deceased individual or his or her family in disposing of the remains.

AB850-engrossed,10,17 (d) If reasonable and necessary for emergency response, require a funeral establishment, as a condition of its permit under s. 445.105 (1), to accept human remains or provide the use of its business or facility, including by transferring the management and supervision of the funeral establishment to the public health authority, for a period of time not to exceed the period of the state of emergency. Reasonable and necessary expenses of a funeral establishment in complying with the requirements under this paragraph may be paid by the department from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (e).

AB850-engrossed,10,22 (e) Require the labeling of all human remains before disposal with all available identifying information and information concerning the circumstances of death and, in addition, require that the human remains of an individual with a communicable disease be clearly tagged to indicate that remains contain a communicable disease and, if known, the specific communicable disease.

AB850-engrossed,11,4 (f) Maintain or require the maintenance of a written or electronic record of all human remains that are disposed of, including all available identifying information and information concerning the circumstances of death and disposal. If it is impossible to identify human remains prior to disposal, the public health authority may require that a qualified person obtain any fingerprints, photographs, or identifying dental information, and collect a specimen of deoxyribonucleic acid from the human remains and transmit this information to the public health authority.

AB850-engrossed,11,16 (g) Notwithstanding s. 59.34 (1) or 59.35 (1), authorize a county medical examiner or a county coroner to appoint emergency assistant medical examiners or emergency deputy coroners, whichever is applicable, if necessary to perform the duties of the office of medical examiner or coroner, and to prescribe the duties of the emergency assistant medical examiners or emergency deputy coroners. The term of any emergency appointment authorized under this paragraph may not exceed the period of the state emergency. A county medical examiner or county coroner may terminate an emergency appointment before the end of the period of the state emergency, if termination of the appointment will not impede the performance of the duties of his or her office. From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (e), the department shall reimburse counties for the cost of any emergency medical examiners or emergency deputy coroners appointed under this paragraph.

AB850-engrossed, s. 15 Section 15. 166.02 (1p) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,11,18 166.02 (1p) "Biological agent" means any of the following:

AB850-engrossed,11,20 (a) A select agent that is a virus, bacterium, rickettsia, fungus, or toxin that is specified under 42 CFR 72, Appendix A.

AB850-engrossed,11,23 (b) A genetically modified microorganism or genetic element from an organism under par. (a) that is shown to produce or encode for a factor associated with a disease.

AB850-engrossed,11,25 (c) A genetically modified microorganism or genetic element that contains nucleic acid sequences coding for a toxin under par. (a) or its toxic subunit.

AB850-engrossed,12,1 (d) An agent specified by the department of health and family services by rule.

AB850-engrossed, s. 16 Section 16. 166.02 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,12,6 166.02 (1r) "Bioterrorism" means the intentional use of any biological, chemical, or radiological agent to cause death, disease or biological malfunction in a human, animal, plant, or other living organism in order to influence the policy of a governmental unit or to intimidate or coerce the civilian population.

AB850-engrossed, s. 17 Section 17. 166.02 (1t) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,12,9 166.02 (1t) "Chemical agent" means a substance that has chemical properties that produce lethal or serious effects in plants or animals.

AB850-engrossed, s. 18 Section 18. 166.02 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,12,12 166.02 (7) "Public health emergency" means the occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health condition that meets all of the following criteria:

AB850-engrossed,12,14 (a) Is believed to be caused by bioterrorism or a novel or previously controlled or eradicated biological agent.

AB850-engrossed,12,15 (b) Poses a high probability of any of the following:

AB850-engrossed,12,16 1. A large number of deaths or serious or long-term disabilities among humans.

AB850-engrossed,12,19 2. A high probability of widespread exposure to a biological, chemical, or radiological agent that creates a significant risk of substantial future harm to a large number of people.

AB850-engrossed, s. 19 Section 19. 166.02 (8) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,12,22 166.02 (8) "Radiological agent" means radiation or radioactive material at a level that is dangerous to human health.

AB850-engrossed, s. 20 Section 20. 166.03 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB850-engrossed,13,10 166.03 (1) (b) 1. Proclaim a state of emergency for the state or any portion thereof of the state if he or she determines that an emergency resulting from enemy action or natural or man-made disaster exists. If the governor determines that a public health emergency exists, he or she may declare a state of emergency related to public health and may designate the department of health and family services as the lead state agency to respond to that emergency. The duration of such state of emergency shall not exceed 60 days as to emergencies resulting from enemy action or 30 days as to emergencies resulting from natural or man-made disaster, unless either is extended by joint resolution of the legislature. A copy of the proclamation shall be filed with the secretary of state. The proclamation may be revoked at the discretion of either the governor by written order or the legislature by joint resolution.

AB850-engrossed, s. 20m Section 20m. 166.03 (1) (b) 8. of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,13,15 166.03 (1) (b) 8. During a state of emergency related to public health, suspend the provisions of any administrative rule if the strict compliance with that rule would prevent, hinder, or delay necessary actions to respond to the emergency and increase the health threat to the population.

AB850-engrossed, s. 21 Section 21. 166.03 (2) (a) 6. of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,13,22 166.03 (2) (a) 6. No later than 90 days after a state of emergency relating to public health is declared and the department of health and family services is not designated under s. 166.03 (1) (b) 1. as the lead state agency to respond to that emergency and no later than 90 days after the termination of this state of emergency relating to public health, submit to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) and to the governor a report on all of the following:

AB850-engrossed,13,24 a. The emergency powers used by the department of military affairs or its agents.

AB850-engrossed,14,2 b. The expenses incurred by the department of military affairs and its agents in acting under the state of emergency related to public health.

AB850-engrossed, s. 22 Section 22. 250.01 (6g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,14,6 250.01 (6g) "Public health authority" means the department, if the governor declares under s. 166.03 (1) (b) 1. a state of emergency related to public health and designates the department as the lead state agency to respond to that emergency.

AB850-engrossed, s. 23 Section 23. 250.01 (6r) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,14,8 250.01 (6r) "Public health emergency" has the meaning given in s. 166.02 (7).

AB850-engrossed, s. 24 Section 24. 250.03 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,14,15 250.03 (3) (a) No later than 90 days after a state of emergency relating to public health is declared and the department is designated under s. 166.03 (1) (b) 1. as the lead state agency to respond to that emergency and no later than 90 days after the termination of this state of emergency relating to public health, the department shall submit to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) and to the governor a report on all of the following:

AB850-engrossed,14,16 1. The emergency powers used by the public health authority or its agents.

AB850-engrossed,14,18 2. The expenses incurred by the public health authority and its agents in acting under the state of emergency related to public health.

AB850-engrossed, s. 25 Section 25. 250.03 (3) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,14,25 250.03 (3) (b) Biennially, beginning on July 1, 2002, after first consulting with the adjutant general, local health departments, health care providers, as defined in s. 146.81 (1), and law enforcement agencies, as defined in s. 165.77 (1) (b), the department shall submit to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) and to the governor a report on the preparedness of the public health system to address public health emergencies.

AB850-engrossed, s. 26 Section 26. 250.042 of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,15,12 250.042 Powers and duties of the department as public health authority. (1) If the governor declares a state of emergency related to public health under s. 166.03 (1) (b) 1. and designates the department as the lead state agency to respond to that emergency, the department shall act as the public health authority during the period of the state of emergency. During the period of the state of emergency, the secretary may designate a local health department as an agent of the department and confer upon the local health department, acting under that agency, the powers and duties of the public health authority. The department may, from the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (e), reimburse a local health department for reasonable and necessary expenses in acting as an agent of the department if designated under this subsection.

AB850-engrossed,15,13 (2) As the public health authority, the department may do any of the following:

AB850-engrossed,15,17 (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.435 (1) (e), purchase, store, or distribute antitoxins, serums, vaccines, immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies that the department determines are advisable to control a public health emergency.

AB850-engrossed,15,18 (b) Act as specified in s. 252.041.

AB850-engrossed,15,20 (3) (a) As the public health authority, the department shall inform state residents of all of the following:

AB850-engrossed,15,22 1. When a state of emergency related to public health has been declared or is terminated.

AB850-engrossed,15,23 2. How to protect themselves from a public health emergency.

AB850-engrossed,15,25 3. What actions the public health authority is taking to control a public health emergency.

AB850-engrossed,16,5 (b) The public health authority shall provide the information specified in par. (a) by all available and reasonable means calculated to inform the general public, including reasonable efforts to make the information accessible to individuals with disabilities and to provide the information in the primary languages of individuals who do not understand English.

AB850-engrossed,16,8 (c) As the public health authority, the department, to the extent possible, shall consult with local health departments, whether or not designated as agents of the department, and with individual health care providers.

AB850-engrossed, s. 27 Section 27. 251.05 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,16,11 251.05 (3) (e) Act as agent of the department, if designated by the secretary under s. 250.042 (1).

AB850-engrossed, s. 28 Section 28. 252.02 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB850-engrossed,16,13 252.02 (title) Powers and duties of department.

AB850-engrossed, s. 29 Section 29. 252.02 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,16,17 252.02 (7) The department shall promulgate rules that specify medical conditions treatable by prescriptions or nonprescription drug products for which pharmacists and pharmacies must report under s. 440.142 (1).

AB850-engrossed, s. 30 Section 30. 252.041 of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,16,23 252.041 Compulsory vaccination during a state of emergency. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), during the period under which the department is designated as the lead state agency, as specified in s. 250.042 (2), the department, as the public health authority, may do all of the following as necessary to address a public health emergency:

AB850-engrossed,17,3 (a) Order any individual to receive a vaccination unless the vaccination is reasonably likely to lead to serious harm to the individual or unless the individual, for reasons of religion or conscience, refuses to obtain the vaccination.

AB850-engrossed,17,5 (b) Isolate or quarantine, under s. 252.06, any individual who is unable or unwilling for reasons specified under sub. (1) to receive vaccination under par. (a).

AB850-engrossed,17,7 (2) The department shall promulgate rules that specify circumstances, if any, under which vaccination may not be performed on an individual.

AB850-engrossed, s. 31 Section 31. 252.05 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB850-engrossed,17,16 252.05 (1) Any person licensed, permitted, registered or certified under ch. 441 or 448 knowing or having health care provider, as defined in s. 146.81 (1), who knows or has reason to know believe that a person treated or visited by him or her has a communicable disease, or having a communicable disease, has died, shall report the appearance of the communicable disease or the death to the local health officer. The local health officer shall report this information to the department or shall direct the person reporting to report to the department. Any person directed to report shall submit this information to the department.

AB850-engrossed, s. 32 Section 32. 252.06 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB850-engrossed,17,22 252.06 (1) The department or the local health officer acting on behalf of the department may require isolation of the patient a patient or of an individual under s. 252.041 (1) (b), quarantine of contacts, concurrent and terminal disinfection, or modified forms of these procedures as may be necessary and which are as are determined by the department by rule.

AB850-engrossed, s. 33 Section 33. 252.06 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 252.06 (4) (a).

AB850-engrossed, s. 34 Section 34. 252.06 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB850-engrossed,17,25 252.06 (4) (b) If s. 250.042 (1) applies, all of the following apply:

AB850-engrossed,18,2 1. No person, other than a person authorized by the public health authority or agent of the public health authority, may enter an isolation or quarantine premises.

AB850-engrossed,18,4 2. A violation of subd. 1. is subject to a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 9 months, or both.