Public health: COVID-19.

Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to take measures, such as ordering isolation, quarantine, and disinfection of persons and places, to study and prevent the spread of a communicable disease. Existing law requires a local health officer to take similar measures in the territory under their jurisdiction to prevent the spread of disease. Under existing law, these measures can be issued to be effective immediately and have the force and effect of law. This bill would require, when the State Department of Public Health issues a statewide order or mandatory guidance, or when a local health officer issues an order, related to preventing the spread of COVID-19, as defined, or protecting public health against a threat of COVID-19, that they publish on their internet website the order or guidance and the date that the order or guidance takes effect. The bill would also require the department or local health officer to create an opportunity for local communities, businesses, nonprofit organizations, individuals, and others to sign up for an email distribution list relative to changes to the order or guidance. By creating new duties for local health officers, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make these provisions operative while an order or mandatory guidance issued by the department or a local health officer is in effect, as provided. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.