SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2220 PRINTER'S NO. 2686
No. 168 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY MILLER, CESSAR, HALUSKA, COWELL, ARTY, WOZNIAK,
ARGALL, ITKIN, NAHILL, HERSHEY, HARPER, STAIRS, GEIST,
SEMMEL, SAURMAN, JACKSON, ANGSTADT, LANGTRY, CARLSON, FOX,
McVERRY, CIVERA, BARLEY, BUNT, BATTISTO, MORRIS, RAYMOND,
GAMBLE AND BLACK, OCTOBER 7, 1985
AS AMENDED, IN SENATE, DECEMBER 11, 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
1 United States Public Health Service and the Center for Disease
2 Control provide research, direction, monitoring and liaison to
3 the states; and reliable blood tests have been developed for
4 antibodies to the AIDS virus; and few transfusion-related cases
5 of AIDS have been identified; and
6 WHEREAS, It is in the public interest to assuage panic and
7 anxiety among the general public through the responsible
8 dissemination of accurate information; therefore be it
9 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
10 direct the Department of Health to conduct an investigation for
11 the purpose of assessing the adequacy of Commonwealth law and
12 regulations governing public health measures, and that the
13 department shall address, but not limit its investigation to,
14 the adequacy of serological screening under the Marriage Law,
15 and the reporting requirements of the Disease Prevention and <--
16 Control Act AND THE ADEQUACY OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN <--
17 INSTITUTIONS AND FACILITIES OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
18 WELFARE AND BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That the department may hold hearings, take
20 testimony and conduct inquiries at such places within this
21 Commonwealth as it deems necessary; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That the department shall report to the General
23 Assembly its findings and recommendations as soon as possible;
24 and be it further
25 RESOLVED, That the department undertake a program of public
26 information to make available to the general public such factual
27 and accurate information known about AIDS and the risks
28 associated with casual exposure.
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