PRINTER'S NO. 2220
No. 168 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY MILLER, CESSAR, HALUSKA, COWELL, ARTY AND WOZNIAK,
OCTOBER 7, 1985
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, OCTOBER 8, 1985
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Department of Health to conduct an investigation
2 into the adequacy of Commonwealth law and existing public
3 health measures which may prevent the spread of Acquired
4 Immune Deficiency Syndrome within the population, to make
5 recommendations, to report to the General Assembly, and to
6 engage in such public information activities deemed
7 necessary.
8 WHEREAS, The news media coverage of victims of Acquired
9 Immune Deficiency Syndrome, known as AIDS, has raised public
10 awareness of the disease; and serious concerns for identifying
11 adequate preventive measures have reached a state of panic in
12 some cities of the United States. Anxiety has increased among
13 the population about the probability of contracting AIDS in the
14 course of casual, household contact with victims of the disease
15 and about the safety of blood used for medical procedures; and
16 WHEREAS, Cases of AIDS have not been documented as
17 transmitted through any means other than blood transfusions,
18 shared hypodermic needles, childbirth or sexual intercourse. The
19 United States Public Health Service and the Center for Disease
20 Control provide research, direction, monitoring and liaison to
1 the states; and reliable blood tests have been developed for
2 antibodies to the AIDS virus; and few transfusion-related cases
3 of AIDS have been identified; and
4 WHEREAS, It is in the public interest to assuage panic and
5 anxiety among the general public through the responsible
6 dissemination of accurate information; therefore be it
7 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
8 direct the Department of Health to conduct an investigation for
9 the purpose of assessing the adequacy of Commonwealth law and
10 regulations governing public health measures, and that the
11 department shall address, but not limit its investigation to,
12 the adequacy of serological screening under the Marriage Law,
13 and the reporting requirements of the Disease Prevention and
14 Control Act; and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That the department may hold hearings, take
16 testimony and conduct inquiries at such places within this
17 Commonwealth as it deems necessary; and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the department shall report to the General
19 Assembly its findings and recommendations as soon as possible;
20 and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That the department undertake a program of public
22 information to make available to the general public such factual
23 and accurate information known about AIDS and the risks
24 associated with casual exposure.
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