- NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee's
governor and health officials would have sweeping new emergency powers
to quarantine and test people, destroy or commandeer private property,
and conduct other measures under the proposed Tennessee Emergency Health
Powers Act. The bill is model legislation drafted by the Center for Law
and the Public's Health at Georgetown University. Its goal is to give state
officials special powers to react to a severe health emergency and limit
its casualties - the direct result of fears of bioterrorism and chemical
warfare brought on by the attacks of Sept. 11.
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- "What we're trying to do is make sure that the governor
and the health authorities have the power to do what they need to do to
protect the public in the case of some type of an emergency, said state
Rep. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis, a co-sponsor. "We hope we'd never
have to use it, but we have to have some means to respond to something
that is highly contagious."
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- The bill defines a health emergency and grants the governor
and state health and safety authorities powers that can be used only during
such a declared emergency. For a health emergency to be declared, there
must be an imminent threat of illness due to bioterrorism, an appearance
of a new or previously controlled infectious agent or biological toxin,
a natural disaster or a chemical or nuclear attack or release. The threat
of illness would have to pose a likelihood of many deaths, many serious
or long-term disabilities or widespread exposure resulting in serious harm
to a large number of people. "In some people's minds, there may be
some infringements on people's personal freedoms or what they perceive
as their civil rights, but what do we do? Do we just let a (health emergency)
endanger people's lives?" Bowers said.
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- The bill requires the state to form a commission to draft
a health emergency plan and coordinate with local officials, health agencies
and federal agencies. It requires the reporting of conditions and illnesses,
in both humans and animals, that might cause a public health emergency.
If the governor declares a public health emergency, the state's Department
of Health could test, vaccinate, examine, treat, isolate and quarantine
people. Isolated and quarantined people could petition a court for relief
and have a hearing within 48 hours. State officials also could commandeer
resources, facilities and supplies, destroy or decontaminate items or premises
and ration health care supplies in a shortage.
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- http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk
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