PRINTER'S NO. 2697
No. 2047 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, HERMAN, J. WILLIAMS, COSTA, M. COHEN,
DIVEN, CAPPELLI, JOSEPHS, GEORGE, YEWCIC, STURLA, STABACK,
EACHUS, WANSACZ, MELIO, TANGRETTI, LAUGHLIN, LESCOVITZ,
WASHINGTON, OLIVER, YOUNGBLOOD, HORSEY, SCRIMENTI, ROBINSON,
BEBKO-JONES, G. WRIGHT, LUCYK, SANTONI, JADLOWIEC, JAMES,
WATERS, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, BUTKOVITZ, SOLOBAY AND
BELFANTI, OCTOBER 17, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, OCTOBER 17, 2001
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 26, 2001 (P.L.755, No.77), entitled "An
2 act establishing a special fund and account for money
3 received by the Commonwealth from the Master Settlement
4 Agreement with tobacco manufacturers; providing for home and
5 community-based care, for tobacco use prevention and
6 cessation efforts, for Commonwealth universal research
7 enhancement, for hospital uncompensated care, for health
8 investment insurance, for medical assistance for workers with
9 disabilities, for regional biotechnology research centers,
10 for the HealthLink Program, for community-based health care
11 assistance programs, for PACE reinstatement and PACENET
12 expansion, for medical education loan assistance and for
13 percentage allocation and appropriation of moneys," providing
14 for preparation for biological and chemical attacks.
15 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
16 hereby enacts as follows:
17 Section 1. The title of the act of June 26, 2001 (P.L.755,
18 No.77), known as the Tobacco Settlement Act, is amended to read:
19 AN ACT
20 Establishing a special fund and account for money received by
21 the Commonwealth from the Master Settlement Agreement with
1 tobacco manufacturers; providing for home and community-based
2 care, for tobacco use prevention and cessation efforts, for
3 Commonwealth universal research enhancement, for hospital
4 uncompensated care, for health investment insurance, for
5 medical assistance for workers with disabilities, for
6 regional biotechnology research centers, for the HealthLink
7 Program, for community-based health care assistance programs,
8 for PACE reinstatement and PACENET expansion, for medical
9 education loan assistance [and], for percentage allocation
10 and appropriation of moneys and for preparation for
11 biological and chemical attacks.
12 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a chapter to read:
13 CHAPTER 29
14 PREPARATION FOR BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL ATTACKS
15 Section 2901. Declaration of policy.
16 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
17 (1) This Commonwealth faces a serious threat of
18 biological and chemical attacks as a result of terrorism.
19 (2) Health care providers in this Commonwealth are not
20 capable of dealing with chemical and biological attacks.
21 (3) The Commonwealth and political subdivisions are
22 unable to deal with chemical and biological attacks.
23 Section 2902. Definitions.
24 "Agency." The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
25 "Health care provider." An individual or entity that is
26 licensed, certified or approved by the Commonwealth to provide
27 health care or professional medical services.
28 Section 2903. Program.
29 The agency may use up to $ from the fund for the following
30 purposes:
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1 (1) Provide training to health care providers for
2 treating victims of biological or chemical attacks.
3 (2) Secure drugs for treatment of diseases resulting
4 from biological or chemical attacks.
5 (3) Secure drugs for immunization against diseases
6 resulting from biological or chemical attacks.
7 (4) Enhance the agency's preparation for biological or
8 chemical attacks.
9 (5) Assist political subdivisions in preparing for
10 biological or chemical attacks.
11 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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