06 LC
35 0175
House
Resolution 1560
By:
Representative Cox of the
102nd
A
RESOLUTION
Creating
the House Pandemic Preparedness and Response Study Committee; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
it is essential to public health and safety that this state be prepared in the
event of a public health emergency caused by either bioterrorism or the rapid
transmission of a life-threatening disease; and
WHEREAS,
a pandemic or epidemic has the potential of causing both devastating health
consequences for the citizens of this state and the disruption of critical
community services due to the incapacitation of essential human infrastructure
and, to attempt to avoid such tragic consequences, there should be an evaluation
of the
statés
preparedness and a consideration of the need for state and local contingency
plans; and
WHEREAS,
in the event of a public health emergency or disaster, state and local officials
will be called upon to implement a response plan.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that there is created
the House Pandemic Preparedness and Response Study Committee to be composed of
five members. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint the
members of the committee and shall designate one of such members as chairperson.
The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and
recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or
appropriate.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall review and consider the following
concerns and issues as these relate to pandemic preparedness and
response:
(1)
The need for coordinated response plans on the regional, state-wide and national
levels;
(2)
Interagency cooperation and agreements between agencies and private entities on
the local, regional, state, and national levels, including agreements with
elected representatives, law enforcement, first responders, and the
media;
(3)
Agreements with health care insurers, Medicaid or other federal medical
programs, and health care product, equipment, and services providers for
cooperation with public health recommendations during an epidemic;
(4)
The coordination, recruitment and training of medical and nonmedical
volunteers;
(5)
The identification of available facilities for the provision of medical care,
decontamination, quarantine, training, and morgue services;
(6)
The need to stockpile medications or medical equipment;
(7)
The availability of communication and the need for developing communication
procedures;
(8)
The development of uniform and humane quarantine procedures; and
(9)
Methods for filling critical infrastructure services such as police, fire, and
EMT services as well as sanitation, water, and electrical services.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee may conduct such meetings at such places
and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to
exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish
the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee
shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim
legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than five days
unless additional days are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the
provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the
House of Representatives. In the event the committee makes a report of its
findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any,
such report shall be made on or before December 31, 2006. The committee shall
stand abolished on December 31, 2006.