§ 44-4-120 — Purpose.

The purposes of this act are: (1) to authorize the collection of data and records, the control of property, the management of persons, and access to communications as may be strictly necessary to accomplish the purposes of this act; (2) to facilitate the early detection of a qualifying health event or public health emergency, and allow for immediate investigation of such an emergency by granting access to individuals' health information under specified circumstances; (3) to grant state officials the authority to use and appropriate property as necessary for the care, treatment, and housing of patients, and for the destruction or decontamination of contaminated materials; (4) to grant state officials the authority to provide care and treatment to persons who are ill or who have been exposed to infection, and to separate affected individuals from the population at large for the purpose of interrupting the transmission of infectious disease; (5) to ensure that the needs of infected or exposed persons will be addressed to the fullest extent possible, given the primary goal of controlling serious health threats; (6) to provide state officials with the ability to prevent, detect, manage, and contain emergency health threats without unduly interfering with civil rights and liberties; and (7) to require the development of a comprehensive plan to provide for a coordinated, appropriate response in the event of a public health emergency.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 2002 Act No. 339, SECTION 24, eff July 2, 2002.