Agency authority regarding public health emergencies and making an appropriation. (FE)

The bill expands the definition to include toxins or other threats to health and further requires that any , rather than all , of the criteria be met. The bill also eliminates the requirement that the significant risk of substantial future harm to a large number of people be created by a high probability of widespread exposure to a biological, chemical, or radiological agent.

The bill further establishes a public health emergency general appropriation and grants DHS authority to expend these moneys during a declared public health emergency for certain purposes, including to facilitate coordination between and among federal, state, local, and tribal agencies, social services, and public and private health care entities that the state health officer determines may be affected by a public health emergency; to make grants, provide for awards, enter into contracts, and conduct supportive investigations pertaining to a public health emergency or potential public health emergency; and to support emergency operations related to the public health emergency, including investigation, education, and eradication. The bill provides that during a public health emergency, DHS possesses all powers necessary to respond to that emergency, including, subject to the approval of the governor, the powers to confidentially investigate the cause and extent of any declared public health emergency and issue orders necessary to protect public health.