Emergency Preparedness

The
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Clearinghouse is a central
repository for emergency preparedness-related statutes, regulations,
orders, reports, and legal tools. The Clearinghouse is intended to aid
jurisdictions considering updates and clarifications to their public
health emergency legal preparedness activities.

Model Memoranda of Understanding

Selected Model Memoranda of Understanding
Selected examples are provided to enhance coordination of preparedness across sectors.

Public Health Law Bench Books

Bench BooksCommonly
used by judges as functional practice guides to accelerate their
understanding of an area of law. States have public health law bench
books for the judiciary; public health officials; state and local public
health attorneys; and the public.

Toolkits, Handbooks, and Menus

Legal Barriers Toolkits
Toolkits
to help public health officials understand and use legal authorities to
prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. They cover
emergency authorities and immunities, emergency use authorizations,
public health and schools, and scope of practice issues. Developed by
the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the Public Health Law Program.
Selected Federal Legal Authorities Pertinent to Public Health Emergencies [PDF - 150KB]
Lists
federal laws that address preparing for and responding to a range of
natural and man-made disasters and emergencies. The list includes a
brief description of the law and a citation.
Social Distancing Law Assessment Template
A
standardized template for assessing legal authorities, hypothetical
scenario and instructions for conducting a Legal Consultation Meeting,
and examples of completed documents.
Court House Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies (Univ. of Pittsburgh) [PDF-852KB]
A
case study demonstrating how Pennsylvania counties have conducted
emergency planning that includes a planning template and planning
resources.
Criminal and Epidemiological Investigations Handbook [PDF-12.4MB]
Provides
an overview of criminal and epidemiological investigation procedures
involving interactions between law enforcement and public health. Law
enforcement and public health officials should read the entire handbook
to understand the different goals and needs of the other organization
before an event occurs. This handbook will teach public health and law
enforcement how to work together to identify the biological agent,
prevent the spread of the disease, avoid public panic, and apprehend
those responsible.

Training and Educational Resources

The Public Health Emergency Law Competency Model Version 1.0
Model
set of Minimum Competencies in Public Health Emergency Law for mid-tier
public health professionals to advance the inclusion of law-based
content in all public health emergency training, resources, and tools.
Developed at the request of CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness
and Emergency Response and the Association of Schools of Public Health
as a companion document to the Public Health Preparedness and Response (PHPR) Core Competency Model (Dec 2010) for mid-level public health workers and the supporting Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes for the PHPR Core Competencies [PDF - 1MB] (Sept 2012).

Article: Legal Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies: A Model for Minimum Competencies for Mid-Tier Public Health Professionals [PDF - 363KB]

Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLC)
The
PERLC develop and deliver competency-based preparedness and response
learning products for the US public health workforce, including training
on legal aspects of emergency response. The program is funded through CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Response.
Public Health and the Law: An Emergency Preparedness Training Kit
Training
kit to prepare public health practitioners, their legal counsel, and
other partners to understand and effectively address changes in the
legal environment as a result of an emergency. Published by the National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Public Health Law Program.
Forensic Epidemiology 3.0
Training
package designed to help public health and law enforcement agencies
strengthen their coordinated response to pandemic influenza and similar
disease outbreaks.
Public Health Emergency Law 3.0
Training
to help public health practitioners and emergency management
professionals improve their understanding of the role of law in public
health emergency response.
Suggested Communicable Disease Vignettes (California Department of Health Services) [PDF-44KB]
Intended
to train users to describe communicable disease scenarios that are
disruptive to safe court operations, identify health benefits of various
precaution methods, and define factors that result in infectious
disease transmission.

Vulnerable Populations

Older Adult Emergency Preparedness Web Portal
A
web portal that serves as a one-stop source for further resources,
tools, and information related to all-hazards preparedness for older
adults. Focus areas include developing plans, collecting and using data,
registries, training and competency, law-based solutions, caregiver
preparedness, and sheltering older adults.

Disclaimer:
Information available on this website that was not developed by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not necessarily
represent any CDC policy, position, or endorsement of that information
or of its sources. The information contained on this website is not
legal advice; if you have questions about a specific law or its
application you should consult your legal counsel.