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2009 SESSION

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HB 2449 Infectious disease; establishes deemed consent to test for HIV & hepatitis B & C and release result.

Introduced by: Mark D. Sickles | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Exposure to communicable diseases; first responders. Requires that if any salaried or volunteer firefighter, paramedic, or emergency medical technician becomes exposed to another's body fluids in a manner that may transmit HIV or hepatitis, the other person will be deemed to have consented to testing for those viruses. This bill removes the duty of a law-enforcement officer to inform a person of his deemed consent prior to exposure to his bodily fluids. Also, when a first responder is asked to transport someone with a communicable disease, this bill removes the transferring facility's discretion in deciding if the responder must be notified as to the general condition of the patient and any precautions to be taken, and instead always requires such notice. This bill is identical to SB 1107.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Notification of infectious disease. Establishes deemed consent to test for and release test results related to infectious disease in cases involving any (i) salaried or volunteer firefighter, paramedic or emergency medical technician, (ii) member of the State Police Officers' Retirement System, (iii) member of county, city or town police departments, (iv) sheriff or deputy sheriff, (v) Department of Emergency Management hazardous materials officer, (vi) city sergeant or deputy city sergeant of the City of Richmond, (vii) Virginia Marine Police officer, (viii) conservation police officer who is a full-time sworn member of the enforcement division of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, (ix) Capitol Police officer, (x) special agent of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or (xi) conservation officer of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This bill also changes the term "communicable disease liaison officer" to "exposure control officer" and removes language providing that a receiving facility has no duty to perform a test or tests beyond those necessary for the medical management of a patient delivered by an emergency medical services agency to the receiving facility.