BILL REQ. #:  S-1091.1 

Read first time 02/13/2003.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to local public health threats; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that it is imperative that public health officials and their staff have the necessary authority and discretion to take actions as are necessary to protect the health and welfare of their particular communities that reflect the priorities of their communities. Public health challenges vary from community to community, and that local health departments need the flexibility to respond to our communities' diverse needs.
     Further, while the state department of health has mosquito abatement authority under RCW 70.22.050, certain counties of the state, contain mosquito abatement districts, and local public health departments also have mosquito abatement authority. Since mosquitoes pose a serious public health hazard with regard to contagious disease, the legislature determines that Washington's citizens would be greatly benefited by having the department of health institute a work group to determine how best to protect local communities from mosquito-borne disease.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   In order to assist local health departments in dealing with mosquito abatement, the department of health shall consult with mosquito abatement district representatives, the Washington state association of counties, representatives of local public health districts, and other interested entities. The department shall analyze and present findings on the best means to address mosquito abatement. The issues to be addressed include, but are not limited to, the responsibility for abatement of nuisance breeding places for mosquitoes, as defined in RCW 17.28.170.
     The department of health shall submit its findings in a report, along with recommendations, on or before December 1, 2003, to the appropriate committees of the legislature.