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03/29/2024 12:34 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20210&cosponId=35852
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: June 10, 2021 02:16 PM
From: Senator Lisa M. Boscola and Sen. Mario M. Scavello, Sen. John T. Yudichak
To: All Senate members
Subject: Creation of a Post-Pandemic Task Force for Future Pandemic Response and Risk Mitigation in Pennsylvania
 
The economic, social, and civic implications stemming from government’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic are unprecedented. The Commonwealth cannot afford to depend on the federal government or other states to map out a strategy of response to future crises. With the recent changes to the Pennsylvania Constitution regarding emergency declarations, the legislature now plays a far more critical role to handling responses in a future crisis. It is incumbent on us to develop a uniform strategy for future pandemics in a non-partisan way. As the Commonwealth recovers, no better opportunity exists to evaluate and assess the response of the Commonwealth to arguably the largest disruptive event of the last century. 

Acknowledging the political divide over the issue, we need a task force that takes a non-partisan view with clear goals and objectives for developing a construct that will enable policy makers to mitigate risk in future events. Something similar to that which was undertaken by the US government following September 11th. 

The proposed task force will have a defined oversight model, and be comprised of appointed experts from public health, education, industry, and policy arenas. The task force will concentrate efforts on accurately and appropriately capturing the chronology, lessons learned, and best practices associated with the Commonwealth’s response to protecting its citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The goal will be to develop a usable and concise operational playbook that will serve as a guide for decision makers when and if future such pandemics occur. Such a guide would provide answers, insights, and direction on topics and elements of high relevance such as:
  • Scope and role of federal policy, and corresponding impact on State-level decision making
  • Role of state government in business and social proceedings (e.g., shutdowns of businesses, travel moratoriums, gathering/meeting restrictions, etc.)
  • Impact on and implications for educational institutions and educational policy
  • Economic policy decisions impacting public welfare, wages and benefits, state, county and local budgeting,
  • Safety, security, and risk mitigation for individuals and businesses.
We look forward to your consideration of this concept and proposed approach, and jointly introducing legislation to fund this critical endeavor.