Bill Text: CT HB05528 | 2014 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Essential Public Health Services And The Euthanization Of Animals In A Facility Subject To Regulation By The United States Department Of Agriculture.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2014-06-13 - Signed by the Governor [HB05528 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2014-HB05528-Chaptered.html
Substitute House Bill No. 5528
AN ACT CONCERNING ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES AND THE EUTHANIZATION OF ANIMALS IN A FACILITY SUBJECT TO REGULATION BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 19a-245 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2014):
Upon application to the Department of Public Health, each health district that has a total population of fifty thousand or more, or serves three or more municipalities irrespective of the combined total population of such municipalities, shall annually receive from the state an amount equal to one dollar and eighty-five cents per capita for each town, city and borough of such district, provided (1) the Commissioner of Public Health approves the public health program and budget of such health district, [and] (2) the towns, cities and boroughs of such district appropriate for the maintenance of the health district not less than one dollar per capita from the annual tax receipts, and (3) the health district meets the requirements of section 3 of this act, within available appropriations. Such district departments of health are authorized to use additional funds, which the Department of Public Health may secure from federal agencies or any other source and which it may allot to such district departments of health. The district treasurer shall disburse the money so received upon warrants approved by a majority of the board and signed by its chairman and secretary. The Comptroller shall quarterly, in July, October, January and April, upon such application and upon the voucher of the Commissioner of Public Health, draw the Comptroller's order on the State Treasurer in favor of such district department of health for the amount due in accordance with the provisions of this section and under rules prescribed by the commissioner. Any moneys remaining unexpended at the end of a fiscal year shall be included in the budget of the district for the ensuing year. This aid shall be rendered from appropriations made from time to time by the General Assembly to the Department of Public Health for this purpose.
Sec. 2. Section 19a-202 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2014):
Upon application to the Department of Public Health any municipal health department shall annually receive from the state an amount equal to one dollar and eighteen cents per capita, provided such municipality (1) employs a full-time director of health, except that if a vacancy exists in the office of director of health or the office is filled by an acting director for more than three months, such municipality shall not be eligible for funding unless the Commissioner of Public Health waives this requirement; (2) submits a public health program and budget which is approved by the Commissioner of Public Health; (3) appropriates not less than one dollar per capita, from the annual tax receipts, for health department services; [and] (4) has a population of fifty thousand or more; and (5) meets the requirements of section 3 of this act, within available appropriations. Such municipal department of health may use additional funds, which the Department of Public Health may secure from federal agencies or any other source and which it may allot to such municipal department of health. The money so received shall be disbursed upon warrants approved by the chief executive officer of such municipality. The Comptroller shall annually in July and upon a voucher of the Commissioner of Public Health, draw the Comptroller's order on the State Treasurer in favor of such municipal department of health for the amount due in accordance with the provisions of this section and under rules prescribed by the commissioner. Any moneys remaining unexpended at the end of a fiscal year shall be included in the budget of such municipal department of health for the ensuing year. This aid shall be rendered from appropriations made from time to time by the General Assembly to the Department of Public Health for this purpose.
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2014) Each district department of health and municipal health department shall ensure the provision of a basic health program that includes, but is not limited to, the following services for each community served by the district department of health and municipal health department: (1) Monitoring of health status to identify and solve community health problems; (2) investigating and diagnosing health problems and health hazards in the community; (3) informing, educating and empowering persons in the community concerning health issues; (4) mobilizing community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems for persons in the community; (5) developing policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts; (6) enforcing laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety; (7) connecting persons in the community to needed health care services when appropriate; (8) assuring a competent public health and personal care workforce; (9) evaluating effectiveness, accessibility and quality of personal and population-based health services; and (10) researching to find innovative solutions to health problems.
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 20-205b of the 2014 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Whenever any cat or dog is euthanized, such euthanization shall be performed in a humane manner by a licensed veterinarian, provided nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the killing of any cat or dog while such cat or dog is attacking a person or another animal under circumstances where a reasonable person would consider such attack life threatening to a person or another animal or likely to cause serious physical injury to a person or another animal. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to apply to (1) the euthanization of any farm animal or livestock, (2) the euthanization of any cat or dog by any law enforcement officer in the course of his or her duties or as described in section 20-197, (3) the euthanization of any dog in accordance with the provisions of section 22-332b and regulations adopted under said section, or (4) the euthanization of any animal in a facility subject to regulation by the United States Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare or the United States Department of Agriculture.