H. B. 4317
(By Delegates Longstreth, D. Poling, Iaquinta,
Hamilton, Burdiss, Caputo and Manchin)
[Introduced January 29, 2008; referred to the
Committee on Health and Human Resources then the
Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §15-5A-2 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to use of alternate medical
facilities under West Virginia's emergency response plan.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §15-5A-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 5A. WEST VIRGINIA EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND COMMUNITY
RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT.
§15-5A-2. Jurisdiction of West Virginia Emergency Response
Commission.
The State Emergency Response Commission shall have within its
jurisdiction and supervision the preparation and implementation of
comprehensive emergency response plans for each designated
emergency planning district within the state so as to comply with
the requirements of 42 U.S.C. §§11001, et seq. The commission, through the Office of Emergency Services Division of Homeland
Security and Emergency Management shall also be responsible for
providing the citizens of this state with information in accordance
with the requirements of 42 U.S.C. §§11001, et seq., and this
article. All state agencies shall cooperate with and assist the
commission in all commission duties and responsibilities.
The
response plan shall authorize the use of veterinary clinics in
each designated emergency plan district within the state as
required for emergency triage units to treat casualty victims with
nonlife threatening injuries when hospitals and other emergency
medical facilities are being used at full capacity with more
serious medical emergencies.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to expand the availability
for emergency treatment in case of a disaster beyond traditional
hospitals to veterinary clinics.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.