House of Representatives

SB 1063

sanitary inspections; fertilizer plants

Sponsors: Senators Gerard and Nichols

DP	Committee on Health
DP	Committee on Natural Resources & Agriculture
x	Caucus and COW
	As Passed the House

SB 1063 removes the requirement for the Department of Health Services (DHS) to inspect fertilizer plants for sanitary conditions.

History

A 1998 audit performed by the Office of the Auditor General suggested that DHS focus on tasks more relevant to their role in public health. According to the OAG, "the Bureau needs to assess the relative importance to public health of each of its activities and identify those that could be discontinued, delegated or transferred to other agencies." By eliminating from statute requirements that are duplicated by local or county health departments, DHS hopes to follow through with the recommendation. Local health departments currently have the authority to prescribe sanitary standards for and inspect fertilizer plants.

Provisions

· Removes from statutory language the requirement for the director of DHS to set standards for and inspect fertilizer plants for sanitary conditions.

· Allows the director of DHS to prescribe emergency measures for detecting, reporting, preventing and controlling all communicable diseases believed to be a serious threat to public health. Current law limits this authority to new communicable diseases or infections.

· Eliminates the reference to the Communicable Disease Advisory Council. Following a sunset review in 2000, legislation to continue the Council failed to pass.

· Makes technical and conforming changes.

SB 1063 passed the Health Committee unamended.

SB 1063 passed the Natural Resources & Agriculture Committee unamended.

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44th Legislature

Second Regular Session 2 March 27, 2001

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