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October 9, 2009

House Passes Emergency Preparedness Legislation

Modernizes public health regulations; respects civil liberties

(Boston) – State Representative Garrett J. Bradley, D-Hingham, joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation updating antiquated public health laws and promoting cooperation between local and state government to ensure that Massachusetts is ready to respond to a public health emergency. The legislation balances a response that is organized with sufficient resources along with respect for civil liberties.

The bill revises out-of-date public health laws – some of which were last updated in 1907 – to more clearly define the powers of the Department of Public Health (DPH) during a public health emergency. Meanwhile, the bill lays out collaborative agreements among local public health authorities and the Department of Public Health while providing liability protection to credentialed volunteers and health care providers who respond and administer aid in the event of a public health emergency.

Rep. Bradley said, "This legislation strikes a balance between the need to protect the public from a pandemic disease or other public health emergency, while ensuring that an individual's rights are protected to the maximum extent possible.  It is a reasonable and responsible plan that would help preserve our society when private and government resources are stressed during a major crisis situation."

“I am proud that this common sense bill will help our state’s preparedness for emergencies while keeping in mind our basic civil liberties,” House Speaker Robert DeLeo said.

“The bill approved by the House will greatly enhance the coordination of emergency response between state and local officials and significantly improve our ability to protect ourselves during a public health crisis. And by amending the bill to address concerns raised by the people of Massachusetts, the House version strikes a thoughtful balance between protecting our communities in an emergency and protecting individual liberties,” Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez, Chairman of the Committee on Public Health, said.

“It has been eight years since the 9/11 attacks and four years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast.  Here at home, we’ve endured the Mother’s Day floods of 2006 and last winter’s extended power outages—each of these situations has involved a public health emergency.  With this new law, medical providers and certain volunteers who help out in an emergency will be shielded from liability.  Volunteers who step up in an emergency should never have to think about liability,” said the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, Rep. Harriett L. Stanley.

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