NATIONAL LEGISLATION
The "Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002" establishes our nation's security and our ability to respond quickly and efficiently to a large scale disaster or public health emergency as a national priority. Section 107 of this legislation specifically charges the Secretary, Health and Human Services with the responsibility of establishing a national Emergency System for the Advance Registration of Voluntary Healthcare Personnel. In accepting the challenge of the mandate, Connecticut has taken a leadership role in defining and developing the volunteer program to meet requirement under the program name "State of Connecticut Emergency Credentialing Program for HealthCare
STATE LEGISLATION
In January 2003, the Connecticut General Assembly (http://www.cga.ct.gov ) approved legislation that incorporated ECP volunteers into the Connecticut Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and provided both volunteer groups with liability insurance and Worker's Compensation coverage during their training for and participation in a Governor-declared state of emergency or public health emergency.
THE CENTER FOR LAW AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AT GEORGETOWN AND
JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITIES
www.publichealthlaw.net
Founded in October, 2000 as a collaborating center of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and in June 2005 as a WHO/PAHO collaborating center in public health law and human rights, the Center for Law and the Public's Health is a primary, international, national, state, and local resource on public health law, ethics, and policy for public health practitioners, lawyers, legislators, judges, academics, policymakers, and others. During the 2005 hurricane emergencies and their aftermath, the Center was contacted by federal, state, and local government representatives and private entities seeking information regarding the legal issues associated with volunteer health personnel participating in the response to the hurricanes. In response, the Center developed (or made available) several memoranda, tables, articles, and other documents to provide information and analysis for volunteers and their coordinators.
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