Menu of Suggested Provisions For State Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Laws

(PDF - 1.5MB)

• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• I. Definitions for Consideration
• II. Legislative Intent
• III. Enabling Statutes and Rulemaking Provisions
• IV. Case Identification
  • A. Mandated Reporting
    • 1. Required Reporters of Communicable Disease
    • 2. Information/Data to be Reported
    • 3. Penalties for Failure to Report TB
    • 4. Duty to Report Nonadherent Patients
    • 5. TB Registries, Proper Disclosure/Use of TB Information, and Immunity of Reporters
  • B. Screening
    
    • 1. Express Legal Authority to Screen
    • 2. Specific Individuals/Populations to be Screened
  • C. Laboratory Testing
  • D. Examination
    • 1. Examination of TB Suspects
    • 2. Examination of Contacts
• V. Case Management
  
  • A. Authority of Public Health Officials to Implement Disease Control Measures and Enforcement/Validation of Orders
    • 1. Authority to Implement Disease Control Measures
    • 2. Enforcement/Validation of Orders
  • B. Investigation
    • 1. Coordination of and Authority and Guidelines for Conducting Investigations
    • 2. Contact Investigations
  • C. Treatment
    • 1. Case Management, Treatment Guidelines, and Required Treatment
    • 2. Directly Observed Therapy (DOT)
  • D. Isolation
  • E. Emergency Detention
  • F. Confinement in a Facility
    • 1. Administrative or Court Order for Confinement
    • 2. Length of Confinement/Discharge
  • G. Social Distancing Measures – Workplace, Schools, and Other Public Settings
  • H. Penalties/Immunity
  • I. Costs
  • J. Grants of Authority to Take Any “Necessary” Action to Protect Public Health
• VI. Protection of Individual Rights
  • A. Due Process
  • B. Religious Exemptions
  • C. Confidentiality
• VII. Interjurisdictional Collaboration
  • A. Agreements
  • B. Interstate Movement of Patients
  • C. Miscellaneous – Local Travel Restrictions and Notices
• Appendix A. Due Process
• Appendix B. Selected State Tuberculosis Control Cases

Disclaimer: The information contained in this document does not constitute legal advice and does not represent the legal views of the Department of Health and Human Services. Use of any provision herein should be contemplated only in conjunction with advice from legal counsel. Provisions may need to be modified, supplemented, or replaced to ensure appropriate citation to or compliance with relevant laws or to otherwise address the needs or requirements of a specific jurisdiction.