PRINTER'S NO. 4409
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2883
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, DeLUCA, KULIK, INNAMORATO, BURGOS,
GALLOWAY, FREEMAN, ROZZI, YOUNGBLOOD, ZABEL, DELLOSO, SIMS,
MADDEN AND SCHLOSSBERG, SEPTEMBER 23, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
SEPTEMBER 23, 2020
AN ACT
Establishing the Targeted Outbreak Detection (TOD) System; and
imposing duties on the Department of Environmental Protection
and the Department of Health.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Targeted
Outbreak Detection (TOD) Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Designated laboratory." A laboratory that is accredited by
the Department of Environmental Protection or the Department of
Health.
"Public health emergency." A declaration by the Governor of
a disaster emergency under 35 Pa.C.S. ยง 7301(c) (relating to
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general authority of Governor) that involves public health.
"Sampling collection network." A wastewater treatment
facility in the system.
"State laboratory." A laboratory within the Department of
Environmental Protection or the Department of Health.
"System." The Targeted Outbreak Detection (TOD) System
established under section 3.
"Wastewater." Water that:
(1) contains wastes from households, commercial
facilities and industrial operations; and
(2) may be mixed with surface water, storm water or
groundwater that has infiltrated the collection system.
"Wastewater treatment facility." The building, process and
equipment needed to treat wastewater, including a facility
subject to 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 56 (relating to municipal authorities)
or 66 Pa.C.S. (relating to public utilities) and any regulation
promulgated thereunder.
Section 3. Targeted Outbreak Detection System.
(a) Establishment.--The Targeted Outbreak Detection (TOD)
System is established within the Department of Health.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to help public
health officials understand and respond to a public health
emergency in this Commonwealth through the testing of
wastewater.
Section 4. Sampling and testing.
(a) Authority of Department of Health.--The Department of
Health may require a wastewater treatment facility in this
Commonwealth to participate in the sampling collection network,
through which the wastewater treatment facility shall be
required to collect and submit wastewater samples as part of a
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surveillance plan deemed necessary by the Department of Health.
(b) Procedures.--A wastewater treatment facility required to
participate under subsection (a) shall take composite samples of
untreated wastewater. The following shall apply:
(1) Samples may be obtained simultaneously with other
samples required by the Department of Environmental
Protection.
(2) Samples may be obtained using existing sampling and
data collection methods.
(3) The wastewater treatment facility shall submit
samples to a State laboratory or designated laboratory that
is equipped with appropriate analytical instruments, as
determined by the Department of Health.
(c) Administration of sampling and testing.--The Department
of Health shall:
(1) Manage the system's testing procedures and analysis
processes, which shall include extraction, detection,
analysis and interpretation of the epidemiological data.
(2) Establish procedures for sampling, analysis, data
collection and quality control measures.
(d) Training program.--The Department of Health may
establish a training program for wastewater treatment facilities
as necessary.
Section 5. Regulations.
The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department
of Health may promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the
provisions of this act.
Section 6. Reporting.
At the discretion of the Department of Health, the Department
of Health shall share information with the general public
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regarding data, sampling and testing procedures under this act
and post the information on the publicly accessible Internet
website of the Department of Health.
Section 7. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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