Public Health Emergency Law

The Connecticut Department of Public Health, in collaboration with Yale CPHP hosted, “Public Health Emergency Law: A Foundational Course for Emergency Response Practitioners,” on Friday, May 18, 2007 at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, in Hartford, CT. The course was based on the CDC foundational course “Public Health Emergency Law” and adapted to cover Connecticut public health and emergency powers laws by a team of practitioners and subject matter experts.

Topic areas covered included 1) how legal powers and restraints apply in public health emergencies and 2) the key legal implications of actions taken in response to, and recovery from, public health emergencies. The target audience for this program included emergency managers, public safety, private and municipal attorneys, members of the judicial system, as well as state and local public health officials. Continuing education credit was offered to public safety attendees. Click here for the conference agenda.

Course learning objectives:

• Describe how public health and emergency response work together in public health emergencies.
• Describe how legal powers and restraints apply in public health emergencies.
• Identify key legal implications of actions taken in response to, or in recovery from, public health emergencies.

Presentation slides:

Unit 1: Why Care About Law – and Lawyers – In Public Health Emergencies?
Ernest B. Abbott, FEMA Law Associates, PLLC and former General Counsel of the Federal Emergency Management Agency

Unit 2: Legal Issues: Detecting and Declaring Emergencies
Brenda M. Bergeron, Legal Counsel, CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Donna Buntaine Brewer, Esq.Director, Public Health Hearing Office
Connecticut Department of Public Health

Unit 3: Emergency Powers 1: Protection of People
Matthew L. Cartter, MD, MPH, Coordinator, CT Department of Public Health Epidemiology & Emerging Infections
The Honorable Barry R. Schaller, Connecticut Appellate Judge; Faculty, Trinity College

Unit 4: Emergency Powers II: Management of Property
Richard Smith, Jr., Partner, Robinson and Cole, LLP
Anne M. Noble, Deputy Legal Counsel, State of Connecticut, Office of the Governor
Brenda M. Bergeron, Legal Counsel, CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Marianne Horn, Director of Legal Services, CT Department of Public Health Office of Research & Development