HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESSB 6366
As Reported by House Committee On:
Health Care
Title: An act relating to preparation and response to pandemic influenza.
Brief Description: Concerning preparation and response to pandemic influenza.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Keiser, Thibaudeau and Kline).
Brief History:
Health Care: 2/21/06, 2/23/06 [DPA].
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill (As Amended by House Committee) |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Appleton, Clibborn, Green, Lantz, Moeller and Schual-Berke.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 6 members: Representatives Hinkle, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander, Bailey, Condotta and Skinner.
Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).
Background:
An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza virus
appears in the human population where it is easily transmitted between people and there is no
immunity to it. In the 20th Century, there were three major influenza pandemics which
spread around the world within a year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
estimates that a "medium-level" influenza pandemic could affect 15-20 percent of the
American population and result in the death of 89,000 to 207,000 people and the
hospitalization of 314,000 to 734,000 people in the United States.
In November 2005, the President's Homeland Security Council released the National Strategy
for Pandemic Influenza which outlines the elements of three key areas of preparedness and
response activities: (1) preparedness and communication; (2) surveillance and detection; and
(3) response and containment. Specific activities include: planning for a pandemic;
communicating expectations and responsibilities; developing, producing, stockpiling, and
distributing medications; ensuring rapid reporting of outbreaks; using surveillance to limit
spread of disease; containing outbreaks; leveraging national medical and public health surge
capacity; sustaining infrastructure, essential services, and the economy; and ensuring risk
communication. Among the roles for state and local government outlined by the strategy is
the establishment of "comprehensive and credible preparedness and response plans that are
exercised on a regular basis."
Summary of Amended Bill:
By June 15, 2006, the Secretary of Health (Secretary) must establish a template that includes
requirements and performance standards for local health jurisdictions to use as the basis for
assessing their capacity to respond to a pandemic disease outbreak or communicable disease
outbreak. The template must include performance measures related to the activities described
in the local health jurisdictions' pandemic flu and communicable disease outbreak
preparedness and response plans (preparedness and response plans). The Secretary must
develop a process for assessment of compliance with performance measures every two years.
Local health jurisdictions must be in compliance with the performance measures by July 1,
2007.
By December 1, 2006, each local health jurisdiction must submit a preparedness and response
plan to the Department of Health (Department). The plans must be consistent with the
template established by the Secretary. Preparedness and response plans must be developed in
consultation with public and private sector organizations including law enforcement,
emergency management departments, school districts, hospitals, medical professionals, tribal
governments, and businesses. Plans must address:
The Department must develop a process for distributing funds to local health jurisdictions for
developing preparedness and response plans by July 1, 2006. The preparedness and response
plans must include an explanation of expenditures needed to implement them.
An appropriation of $300,000 is made to the Department for its activities. An appropriation
of $1.4 million is made to the Department to distribute to local health jurisdictions for
developing preparedness and response plans. An appropriation of $4 million is made to the
Department to distribute to local health jurisdictions to implement the spending plans in their
preparedness and response plans.
Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Substitute Bill:
The amended bill requires the Department to develop a template that includes performance
measures for local health jurisdictions to use as the basis for local health jurisdictions to
create preparedness and response plans. The preparedness and response plans must include a
spending plan for implementing the preparedness and response plans. The Department must
create a process for assessing compliance with performance measures and a process for
distributing funds to local health jurisdictions to implement their preparedness and response
plans.
The amended bill appropriates $5.3 million to the Department and local health jurisdictions
for their planning and implementation activities.
An emergency clause is added.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Testimony For: When pandemic flu occurs, it will impact every aspect of people's lives and
the economy. Washington cannot rely upon federal funding to prepare local governments for
a pandemic. This bill outlines a structure of the necessary steps for a response to pandemic
flu. This bill will build infrastructure for future years and create a basic core of preparedness.
This bill offers an opportunity to prepare equally across jurisdictions. There is a lot more
work that needs to be done to prepare for pandemic flu.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: Senator Keiser, prime sponsor; Susie Tracy, Public Health Roundtable; Craig McLaughlin, State Board of Health; and Rick Mockler, Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials.