Pandemic Info

Pandemic Info about your government

Below is that passed in 186th session 2009-2010 during a different pandemic.

S2028 Massachusetts

An Act relative to pandemic and disaster preparation and response in the Commonwealth

SECTION 1. Chapter 17 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 2A, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, and inserting in place thereof the following section:- 

Section 2A. (a) Upon declaration by the governor that an emergency exists which is detrimental to the public health or upon declaration of a state of emergency under chapter 639 of the acts of 1950, as amended, the commissioner may, during such period of emergency, take such action and incur such liabilities as he or she may consider necessary to assure the maintenance of public health and the prevention of disease. The commissioner may establish procedures to be followed during such emergency to ensure the continuation of essential public health services and the enforcement of the same. 

In circumstances where the governor declares that the emergency detrimental to public health is limited to a specified local area, the appropriate local public health authority, as defined in section 1 of chapter 111, may, with the approval of the commissioner, during such period of emergency, take such action and incur such liabilities as it may deem necessary to assure the maintenance of public health and the prevention of disease. Furthermore, in such circumstances, such local public health authority may, with the approval of the commissioner, establish procedures to be followed during such emergency to insure the continuation of essential public health services and the enforcement of the same. Nothing in this section shall supersede the normal operating authority of the local public health authorities, provided that such authority shall not be exercised in a manner that conflicts with any procedure or order issued by the Commissioner to assure the maintenance of public health and the prevention of disease during such emergency.

(b) Upon declaring a public health emergency or state of emergency, the governor may activate the state comprehensive emergency management plan and its associated processes, including authority pursuant to chapter 639 of the acts of 1950. Such declaration may authorize the deployment and use of any forces to which the plan applies and the use or distribution of any supplies, equipment, materials, and facilities assembled, stockpiled, or available. 

(c) During such public health emergency or state of emergency, any person who renders assistance or advice during the emergency as provided in section 1 of chapter 258 shall be protected from liability to the extent provided by chapter 258.

(d) During such public health emergency or state of emergency, any person owning or controlling real estate or other premises who voluntarily and without compensation grants a license or privilege, or otherwise permits the designation or use of the whole or any part or parts of such real estate or premises for the purpose of assisting in responding to the emergency, shall not be civilly liable for causing the death of, or injury to, any person on or about such real estate or premises under such license, privilege, or other permission, or for causing loss of, or damage to, the property of such person, except in the event of willful, wanton, or reckless misconduct. The immunities provided in this subsection shall not apply to any person whose act or omission caused in whole or in part such emergency or who would otherwise be liable therefore. 

(e) The declaration of an emergency detrimental to the public health shall terminate when so declared by the governor, or automatically after 90 days, unless renewed by the governor. Each renewal shall terminate after 90 days unless renewed for an additional 90 days, or unless sooner terminated by order of the general court. 

(f) Upon termination of an emergency detrimental to the public health, all powers granted to and exercised by the commissioner and local public health authorities under this section and section 2B shall terminate. 

SECTION 2. Said chapter 17 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 2A the following section:- 

Section 2B. (a) In this section, “Health care facility”, means any non-federal institution, building, or agency or portion thereof, whether public or private (for-profit or nonprofit) that is used, operated, or designed to provide health services, medical treatment, or nursing, rehabilitative, or preventive care to any person or persons. This includes, but is not limited to: ambulatory surgical facilities, community health centers, health maintenance organizations, home health agencies, hospices, hospitals, infirmaries, intermediate care facilities, kidney treatment centers, long term care facilities, medical assistance facilities, mental health centers, outpatient facilities, public health centers, rehabilitation facilities, residential treatments facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and adult day-care centers. The term also includes, but is not limited to, the following related property when used for or in connection with the foregoing: alternate care sites, laboratories; research facilities; pharmacies; laundry facilities; health personnel training and lodging facilities; patient, guest, and health personnel food service facilities; and offices and office buildings for persons engaged in health care professions or services. In this section, “Health care provider”, means any person or entity that provides health care services including, but not limited to, health plans, health maintenance organizations, hospitals, medical clinics and offices, special care facilities, medical laboratories, physicians, pharmacists, dentists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered and other nurses, paramedics, and emergency medical or laboratory technicians. In this section, “Health care professional”, includes, but is not limited to, a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, physician, physician assistant, dentist, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, psychologist and social worker.

(b) Specifically, but without limiting the generality of section 2A and notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the commissioner shall have and may exercise, or may direct or authorize other state or local government agencies to exercise, authority relative to any one or more of the following if necessary to protect the public health during an emergency declared pursuant to section 2A or a state of emergency declared under chapter 639 of the acts of 1950.. During either type of declared emergency, a local public health authority as defined in section 1 of chapter 111 may exercise authority relative to subparagraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (13), (14), and (15); and with the approval of the Commissioner may exercise authority relative to subparagraphs (5), (8), (9), (10), and (11): (1) to require the owner or occupier of premises to permit entry into and investigation of the premises;

(2) to close, direct, and compel the evacuation of, or to decontaminate or cause to be decontaminated any building or facility, and to allow the reopening of the building or facility when the danger has ended; 

(3) to decontaminate or cause to be decontaminated, or to destroy any material; 

(4) to restrict or prohibit assemblages of persons; 

(5) to require a health care facility to provide services or the use of its facility, or to transfer the management and supervision of the health care facility to the department or to a local public health authority; 

(6) to control ingress to and egress from any stricken or threatened public area, and the movement of persons and materials within the area; 

(7) to adopt and enforce measures to provide for the safe disposal of infectious waste and human remains, provided that religious, cultural, family, and individual beliefs of the deceased person shall be followed to the extent possible when disposing of human remains, whenever that may be done without endangering the public health; 

(8) to procure, take immediate possession from any source, store, or distribute any anti-toxins, serums, vaccines, immunizing agents, antibiotics, and other pharmaceutical agents or medical supplies located within the commonwealth as may be necessary to respond to the emergency;

(9) to require in-state health care providers to assist in the performance of vaccination, treatment, examination, or testing of any individual as a condition of licensure, authorization, or the ability to continue to function as a health care provider in the commonwealth; 

(10) to waive the commonwealth’s licensing requirements for health care professionals with a valid license from another state in the United States or whose professional training would otherwise qualify them for an appropriate professional license in the commonwealth;

(11) to allow for the dispensing of controlled substances by appropriate personnel consistent with federal statutes as necessary for the prevention or treatment of illness;

(12) to authorize the chief medical examiner to appoint and prescribe the duties of such emergency assistant medical examiners as may be required for the proper performance of the duties of the office; 

(13) to collect specimens and perform tests on any animal, living or deceased; 

(14) to exercise authority under sections 95 and 96 of chapter 111; 

(15) to care for any emerging mental health or crisis counseling needs that individuals may exhibit, with the consent of the individuals.

Not withstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, provided that, based on a periodic review, the Commissioner has found that within the City of Boston, the local public health authority has adequate and appropriate resources to exercise authority relative to subparagraph (5), said local public health authority, after notifying the Commissioner, may exercise authority relative to subparagraph (5) of this section during either type of declared emergency unless such action is deemed by the Commissioner, after consultation with the local public health authority, to be contrary to the interests of the Commonwealth. 

Upon request or issuance of an order by the commissioner or his or her designee, or by a local public health authority or its designee, an officer authorized to serve criminal process may arrest without a warrant any person whom the officer has probable cause to believe has violated an order given to effectuate the purposes of this subsection and shall use reasonable diligence to enforce such order.

Any person who knowingly violates an order of the commissioner or his or her designee, or of a local public health authority or its designee, given to effectuate the purposes of this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or by a fine of note more than one thousand dollars, or both. 

(c) During an emergency declared pursuant to section 2A or a state of emergency declared under chapter 639 of the acts of 1950 the commissioner may request assistance from the Massachusetts emergency management agency and the department of state police. 

(d) All state and local agencies of the Commonwealth engaged in responding to a public health emergency declared pursuant to section 2A or a state of emergency declared under chapter 639 of the acts of 1950 shall consult and cooperate in:

(1) the exercise of their powers over routes of transportation and over materials and facilities including but not limited to communication devices, carriers, public utilities, fuels, food, clothing, and shelter; and 

(2) Informing the people of the Commonwealth about how to protect themselves during the emergency and its aftermath and what actions are being taken to control the emergency. For the benefit of people of the Commonwealth who lack sufficient skills in English to understand the information, reasonable efforts shall be made to provide the information in the primary languages of those people as well as in English; and reasonable efforts shall be made to provide the information in a manner accessible to individuals with disabilities. 

(e) All state and local agencies of the Commonwealth engaged in responding to a public health emergency declared pursuant to section 2A or a state of emergency declared under chapter 639 of the acts of 1950 are authorized to share and disclose information to the extent necessary for the treatment, control, and investigation of the emergency.

(f) To the extent practicable consistent with the protection of public health, prior to the destruction of any property during the emergency, the department of public health or a local public health authority shall institute appropriate civil proceedings against the property to be destroyed in accordance with the existing laws and rules of the courts of this Commonwealth or any such rules that may be developed by the courts for use during the emergency. Any property acquired by the department of public health or a local public health authority through such proceedings shall, after entry of the decree, be disposed of by destruction as the court may direct. 

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

 Of interest are "
(1) the exercise of their powers over routes of transportation and over materials and facilities including but not limited to communication devices, carriers, public utilities, fuels, food, clothing, and shelter; and ...

Upon request or issuance of an order by the commissioner or his or her designee, or by a local public health authority or its designee, an officer authorized to serve criminal process may arrest without a warrant any person whom the officer has probable cause to believe has violated an order given to effectuate the purposes of this subsection and shall use reasonable diligence to enforce such order.

Any person who knowingly violates an order of the commissioner or his or her designee, or of a local public health authority or its designee, given to effectuate the purposes of this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or by a fine of note more than one thousand dollars, or both.

(e) All state and local agencies of the Commonwealth engaged in responding to a public health emergency declared pursuant to section 2A or a state of emergency declared under chapter 639 of the acts of 1950 are authorized to share and disclose information to the extent necessary for the treatment, control, and investigation of the emergency.

So where does this leave you?

Consider an organization like ID2020.org.

The Manifesto:

Alliance partners share the belief that identity is a human right and that individuals must have “ownership” over their own identity

In 2018, ID2020 Alliance Partners, working in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), drafted a formal articulation of our perspective on ethical approaches to digital identity. The landmark ID2020 Alliance Manifesto below lays out these shared principles and forms a starting point to guide the future of digital identity globally.

The Alliance Manifesto

The ability to prove one’s identity is a fundamental and universal human right.

To whom does one need to prove one's identity?

We live in a digital era. Individuals need a trusted, verifiable way to prove who they are, both in the physical world and online.

Why can't the individual decide what transactions they wish to perform in the physical world vs. the online world?

What amendment is right to privacy?
The right to privacy is alluded to in the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution, which states, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." The logical extension of the amendment to digital properties would make sense since if the internet had existed when it was written, digital documents would have been considered more important than the literal "papers" mentioned in the text.

• Privacy helps to avoid unwanted and potentially intrusive interference in an individual's personal affairs.
• Surveillance of the general public has been done without their knowledge or consent, which is essentially undemocratic and in violation of the human rights.
  
  Stay safe out there!
• Privacy is one of the rights that were absent in the society in George Orwell 's Nineteen Eighty-Four...

 Stay safe out there!

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