Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes guidelines for public reporting of data regarding epidemic testing.

Highlights:

• Specifies within 24 hours after a state of emergency is declared due to a disease outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic, the Department of Health will form a committee to advise the department on how and when to implement quarantine and disease communication tracking procedures (Sec. 1-1).

• Requires the committee to be composed of the following members (Sec. 1-3):

• The governor, or the governor's designee;

• The speaker of the senate, or the speaker's designee;

• The speaker of the house of representatives, or the speaker's designee;

• Each constitutional officer, or each officer's designee; and

• The commissioner of health, or the commissioner's designee, who will serve as chair.

• Requires the committee to meet weekly or more frequently if the chair chooses during a state of emergency following the initial meeting. The committee members may participate by electronic or other means of communication for the benefit of the public (Sec. 1-5).

• Requires the committee to report to the chair of the health and welfare committee of the senate and the chair of the health committee of the house of representatives the current quarantine and disease communication tracking procedures in use by the department (Sec. 1-6).

• Specifies within 5 business days of quarantine and disease communication tracking procedures being implemented in response to a state of emergency declared due to a disease outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic, and weekly thereafter until the state of emergency is no longer effective, each county health department will publish on the department of health website the following information (Sec. 1-7.b):

• Total tests administered for the disease outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic;

• Total positive tests;

• Type of test used; and

• Number of cases of the disease outbreak, epidemic, or pandemic detected with each type of test.

Full Bill Text