News Release
For Immediate Release
January 16, 2008
Contact:
Aaron Zappia
(215) 657-7700

Senate Adopts Greenleaf Resolution to Update Pennsylvania's Public Health Law

HARRISBURG—Today, the Pennsylvania Senate approved Senate Resolution 194 sponsored by Senator Stewart J. Greenleaf (R, Montgomery, Bucks) creating a legislative task force and advisory committee to review, update and codify Pennsylvania's public health law to address modern public health issues.

According to Senator Greenleaf, Pennsylvania's current patchwork of public health laws would make it difficult to quickly address a public health emergency.  Increased global travel and emerging biological threats have the potential for creating serious statewide public health concerns.  It is important to consolidate the public health law with the emergency management services provisions so that Pennsylvania has a coordinated and internally consistent body of law to address public health emergencies.

"Currently, Pennsylvania's public health statutes are scattered throughout old case law, state and local regulations," said Senator Greenleaf.  "Many of Pennsylvania's public health statutes date back to the 1950's or earlier, including the very significant Disease Prevention and Control Law of 1955.  In addition, Pennsylvania's public health case law dates primarily to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, predating contemporary constitutional due process standards."

Last year, The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Center for Public Health Preparedness developed a Pennsylvania Public Health Law Bench Book for judges for use if they are faced with a disease or epidemic requiring quarantine or other legal action.  This process demonstrated the need to substantially upgrade Pennsylvania’s public health law.

The resolution establishes a legislative task force consisting of two members appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.  The task force will create an advisory committee composed of experts on public health law.  The task force and advisory committee will make a report to the Senate with recommended legislation.

"Just as important as it is to enhance emergency preparedness in the Commonwealth in response to natural disasters, we must undertake this process to ensure that we are able to act quickly in response to a public health emergency," said Senator Greenleaf.