HB 697 -- DISPENSING MEDICATION DURING EMERGENCIES

SPONSOR:  Cooper

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Homeland
Security by a vote of 11 to 0.

This bill adds state and political subdivision employees to the
term "volunteer" as it relates to persons who can dispense
medications for the Department of Health and Senior Services
during emergencies.  If the employee is not a health care
professional and is not otherwise covered by the State Legal
Expense Fund, the individual will be considered an unpaid
employee and will be covered by the fund.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters of the bill say that local public health
authorities have requested the inclusion of their employees.
Other local and state government employees would be allowed to be
used during health care emergencies, such as pandemic flu.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Cooper; Department of
Health and Senior Services; and Missouri Association of Local
Public Health Agencies.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:25 am