BILL REQ. #:  H-0491.1 

Read first time 01/16/13.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to public notification of local health conditions; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 70.05 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 43.70 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By January 1, 2014, the department shall establish guidance for local health jurisdictions to consider while developing community health alert notification plans. The guidance must assist local health jurisdictions with the adoption of community health alert notification plans by addressing components of the plan including the:
     (a) Methods for monitoring the incidence of notifiable conditions within the local health jurisdiction and determining when the incidence of notifiable conditions exceeds the rate that would be expected within the particular jurisdiction; and
     (b) Manner and content for informing the public within the local health jurisdiction's territory as notifiable conditions exceed the rate that would be expected. The department shall identify factors to consider when determining the appropriate level of public notification such as the risk to the public from the notifiable condition, the duration of the higher incidence of the notifiable condition, the extent of the increased incidence, the cost-effectiveness of various options, and the balancing of the need to keep the public informed without creating either undue concern or diminished receptivity to severe public health risks.
     (2) In developing the guidelines, the department shall establish a temporary work group of public health officials, representatives of local media establishments, and the public.
     (3) For purposes of this section:
     (a) "Local health jurisdiction" means a county board of health organized under chapter 70.05 RCW, a health district organized under chapter 70.46 RCW, or a combined city-county health department organized under chapter 70.08 RCW.
     (b) "Notifiable condition" means a disease or condition that the state board of health has determined to be of public health importance and must be reported to either the local health officer or the department.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 70.05 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By July 1, 2014, each local board of health shall adopt a community health alert notification plan that establishes the method by which the local health department, health district, or combined city-county health department shall keep the public who reside in its jurisdiction informed of variations in the incidence of notifiable conditions that exceeds the rate that would be expected. The plan must address the elements identified in section 1 of this act and must give consideration to the guidance established by the department.
     (2) The plan must be made available to the public on the web site of each local health department.