The Public Health Emergency Preparedness Clearinghouse is a central repository for emergency preparedness-related statutes, regulations, orders, reports, and legal tools. The Clearinghouse is intended to aid jurisdictions considering updates and clarifications to their public health emergency legal preparedness activities.
Zika Activities and Updates
Zika Resources Resources and information developed by the Public Health Law Program to address potential questions from responders and the public about Zika-related legal issues.
Ebola Activities and Updates
Ebola Resources Resources and trainings developed by the Public Health Law Program to address potential questions from responders and the public about Ebola-related legal issues.
Bench Books Commonly used by judges as functional practice guides to accelerate their understanding of an area of law. States have public health law bench books for the judiciary; public health officials; state and local public health attorneys; and the public.
Toolkits, Handbooks, and Other Publications
Tribal Emergency Preparedness Law This issue brief provides an introduction to tribal emergency preparedness law. It discusses tribal emergency preparedness authorities and provides examples of these authorities across various tribal laws; examines federal Indian law in the context of emergency preparedness; and addresses cross-jurisdictional coordination between tribes and other jurisdictions.
When It’s Time To Leave: Summary of California Mass Evacuation Laws This issue brief provides an overview of how statutes and regulations in California play a vital role in ensuring that response personnel have the necessary authority to accomplish effective and efficient evacuations from threatened areas.
Criminal and Epidemiological Investigations Handbooks Provide an overview of criminal and epidemiological investigation procedures, which are designed to increase collaboration between public health and law enforcement. Law enforcement and public health officials can use the applicable handbook (domestic or international) to understand the different goals and needs of the other organization before an event occurs. These handbooks teach public health and law enforcement how to work together to identify the biological agent, prevent the spread of the disease, avoid public panic, and apprehend those responsible.
Domestic Version [PDF – 3MB] For public health, law enforcement, and other agencies within the United States, with content based on US laws, statutes, and authorities.
International Version [PDF – 3MB] For public health, law enforcement, and other agencies outside of the United States, with content generalized for an international audience.
LawAtlas State Emergency Suspension Powers Laws Map This LawAtlas map covers state laws that explicitly grant governors the power to suspend, amend, or create laws during emergencies. Emergencies might involve dangers to public health, such as an outbreak of the flu; natural disasters, such as floods or earthquakes; or threats to security, such as acts of terror.
Emergency Declarations and Tribes: Mechanisms Under Tribal and Federal Law Tribes have inherent authority as sovereign nations to undertake measures to prepare for and manage public health emergencies in the manner most appropriate for their communities. Coupled with existing federal statutes, there are multiple mechanisms for tribes, either directly or through a state or the US federal government, to declare an emergency or receive the benefits of a federal declaration. This article summarizes several types of emergency declarations, including tribal declarations, Stafford Act declarations, and federal public health emergency declarations, and their implications for tribes. Sunshine G, Hoss A. Emergency declarations and tribes: mechanisms under tribal and federal law. Michigan State International Law Review 2015;24:33–44.
Public Health Preparedness: Examination of Legal Language Authorizing Responses to Radiological Incidents [PDF 669KB] Assesses state and local laws that authorize restriction of movement and decontamination of people during a radiological event. Offers radiation legal preparedness guided questions for stakeholders. The assessment is a the result of a partnership between the CDC’s Public Health Law Program, CDC’s National Center Environmental Health, Radiation Studies Branch, and the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
Social Distancing Law Assessment Template A standardized template for assessing legal authorities, hypothetical scenario and instructions for conducting a Legal Consultation Meeting, and examples of completed documents.
Forensic Epidemiology 3.0 Training package designed to help public health and law enforcement agencies strengthen their coordinated response to pandemic influenza and similar disease outbreaks.
Public Health Emergency Law 3.0 Training to help public health practitioners and emergency management professionals improve their understanding of the role of law in public health emergency response.
Older Adult Emergency Preparedness Web Portal A web portal that serves as a one-stop source for further resources, tools, and information related to all-hazards preparedness for older adults. Focus areas include developing plans, collecting and using data, registries, training and competency, law-based solutions, caregiver preparedness, and sheltering older adults.
Webinars
Disaster Preparedness & Response: Here, There & Everywhere This presentation, cosponsored by the American Bar Association, discusses legal preparedness at the intersection of public health and healthcare, including the importance of legal preparedness for healthcare providers, public health investigations, implications for healthcare, and liability protection for countermeasure distribution. (5/2/2017)
Ebola and the Law: What You Need to Know This webinar, co-sponsored by The Network for Public Health Law, PHLP, and the American Health Lawyers Association, describes the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, discusses legal issues that arise when infected patients enter the United States, and explores the legal powers and duties of health department personnel if an Ebola outbreak occurs in the United States. (08/12/2014)
One Year of Ebola—Legal Issues and Considerations This webinar, sponsored by the American Health Lawyers Association and PHLP, examines the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, legal considerations implicated in the U.S. response to the outbreak, state Ebola screening and monitoring policies and their evolution during the past year, and how healthcare settings are legally preparing for the next threat. (11/20/2015)
Zika Preparedness and Response: A Public Health and Legal Perspective This webinar, co-sponsored by the Partnership for Public Health Law, the American Public Health Association, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and the National Association of Local Boards of Health, provides an overview of the public health problem posed by Zika, discusses the domestic legal framework for addressing the virus, and highlights ways to coordinate health care and public health legal preparedness. (03/18/2016)
Tribal Emergency Preparedness Law and Practice Both tribal laws and federal laws can affect emergency preparedness practice. This webinar, hosted by the Network for Public Health Law, describes how law can affect tribal emergency preparedness practice and discusses legal mechanisms for emergency declarations. (Sept. 24, 2015)
Hospital Legal Preparedness: Understanding the Role of the Law When Hospitals Face Emergencies This webinar, hosted by the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals, outlines general principles of effective quality assurance and performance improvement for legal preparedness for hospitals and illustrates the necessary components of a defensible hospital emergency management program. (12/8/2015)
Disclaimer: Information available on this website that was not developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not necessarily represent any CDC policy, position, or endorsement of that information or of its sources. The information contained on this website is not legal advice; if you have questions about a specific law or its application you should consult your legal counsel.
