Bill Text: VA HB5105 | 2020 | 1st Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Rapid diagnostic testing; availability to all essential workers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-08-25 - Tabled in Health, Welfare and Institutions (11-Y 10-N) [HB5105 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-HB5105-Introduced.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 32.1-42.2 as follows:
§32.1-42.2. Rapid diagnostic testing; essential workers.
A. As used in this section:
"Emergency medical services personnel" has the same meaning as set forth in §32.1-111.1.
"Emergency medical services provider" has the same meaning as set forth in §32.1-111.1.
"Essential worker" means any employee of a business considered essential as set out by the Governor during a public health emergency.
"Health care provider" means any certified or licensed health care provider who works (i) with patients with a communicable disease of public health significance as defined in §32.1-48.01, (ii) with patients who could come into contact with a communicable disease of public health significance, and (iii) in any facility where there are patients infected with a communicable disease of public health significance.
"Law-enforcement officer" has the same meaning as set forth in §18.2-307.1.
"Rapid diagnostic testing" means medical diagnostic tests available for preliminary or emergency medical screening for a communicable disease of public health significance.
B. In any case in which the Commissioner determines that a communicable disease of public health significance exists in the Commonwealth, the Commissioner shall ensure that any available rapid diagnostic testing indicating the existence of such communicable disease is readily available to all essential workers in the Commonwealth. Priority for access to such testing shall go to (i) health care providers, (ii) law-enforcement officers, (iii) emergency medical services personnel and emergency medical services providers, (iv) patients in nursing homes as defined in §32.1-123 who are determined by the nursing home to be high-risk patients, (v) public and private elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth, and (vi) public institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education as defined in §23.1-100 in the Commonwealth.
2. That an emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.
