hr1692_LC_35_0239S_hs

hr1692_LC_35_0239S_hs_4.html

06 LC 35 0239S

The House Committee on Public Safety offers the following substitute to HR 1692:

A RESOLUTION

Creating the House Study Committee on a Comprehensive Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Program; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, it is essential to public health and safety that this state be prepared in the event of a large-scale public safety emergency caused by either bioterrorism, natural or manmade disaster, or the rapid transmission of a life-threatening disease; and

WHEREAS, a natural or manmade disaster, pandemic, or epidemic has the potential of causing extensive casualties, 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, local leaders should be prepared and trained to efficiently and immediately respond to such emergencies; and

WHEREAS there is a need, as an integral part of the statés emergency preparedness in the event of a large-scale public safety emergency, for state and local governments to develop consistent and meaningful contingency plans and for county and municipal governments to have pre-prepared procedures for the implementation of an effective and immediate response to such a disaster; and

WHEREAS, in the event of a large-scale public safety emergency or disaster, state and local officials will be called upon to implement a response plan and will be expected to efficiently and with assurance lead the state and its citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
there is created the House Study Committee on a Comprehensive Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Program to be composed of five members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Georgiás Office of Homeland Security, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Georgia Municipal Association, and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia shall work cooperatively with the committee to help to develop emergency preparedness courses for training local government leaders.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the development of the courses and instruction should consider the following concerns and issues as these relate to emergency 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 emergency 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 shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee shall focus its attention on the steps necessary to ensure that county and municipal government leaders are provided meaningful courses of instruction, training, and guidance so that our county and municipal government leaders are prepared to respond to a large-scale public safety emergency. 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 provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for 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. The committee shall make a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, on or before December 31, 2006. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31, 2006.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Governor, the director of Georgiás Office of Homeland Security; the director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, and the Georgia Municipal Association.