PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PLAN H.B. 5630 & 5631: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
House Bills 5630 and 5631 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Leslie Mortimer (H.B. 5630)
Representative Richard Ball (H.B. 5631)
House Committee: Health Policy
Senate Committee: Health Policy
Date Completed: 5-3-06
CONTENT
House Bill 5630 would amend the Public Health Code to require the Department of Community Health (DCH) to establish and maintain a pandemic influenza plan.
House Bill 5631 would amend the Code to require the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) to assist the DCH in any review or update of the pandemic influenza plan, and cooperate with the DCH Director in his or her response to certain epidemics.
House Bill 5631 is tie-barred to House Bill 5630. The bills are described below in further detail.
House Bill 5630
The DCH would have to consult with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that the State's pandemic influenza plan was consistent with the national preparedness efforts. In consultation with the MDA and the State's local health departments, the DCH would have to review and update the plan at least annually. The DCH would have to make the plan and any updates to it available to the public through the Department's website.
Additionally, beginning one year after the bill took effect, the DCH would have to prepare an annual report regarding the plan, including an assessment of its effectiveness and Michigan's preparedness for an influenza outbreak, and present the report to the standing committees and appropriations subcommittees of the Senate and the House of Representatives that address public health issues primarily.
House Bill 5631
Under the Code, if the DCH Director determines that control of an epidemic is necessary to protect the public health, he or she may prohibit by emergency order the gathering of people for any purpose, and may establish procedures to be followed during the epidemic to ensure continuation of essential public health services and enforcement of health laws.
Under the bill, if an epidemic involved avian influenza or another virus or disease that is or may be spread by contract with animals, the MDA would have to cooperate with and assist the DCH Director in his or her response to the epidemic.
Additionally, upon the DCH Director's request, the MDA Director would have to assist the DCH in any review or update of the pandemic influenza plan (required by House Bill 5630).
Proposed MCL 333.5112 (H.B. 5630) Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
MCL 333.2253 (H.B. 5631)
FISCAL IMPACT
Over the past 12 months, the Department of Community Health, in conjunction with the Departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Federal agencies, has updated Michigan's pandemic influenza response plan. The cost of formulating and maintaining this response plan has been largely underwritten by Federal grant funds. The State of Michigan recently received an additional $3 million grant from the Federal government designed to accelerate State pandemic influenza planning efforts.
The reporting requirements included in House Bill 5630 would likely create additional minor administrative costs to the Department, although it is probable that Federal grant funds could be used to cover these costs.
Fiscal Analyst: Bruce Baker
David Fosdick
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb5630&5631/0506