State
of New Jersey
Executive
Order #140
Acting Governor
Richard J. Codey
WHEREAS, recent events
surrounding the September 11, 2001 tragedy and subsequent anthrax contamination
have heightened the public's awareness of the need for a fully integrated
and updated public health system in order to respond to public health
emergencies; and
WHEREAS, a coalition
of public health officials, health care providers and others recently
published a report, "Crafting a Restructured Environment (CARE)" which
identified the major components of New Jersey's public health system,
including, among other issues: infrastructure; fragmentation administrative
and operational structure; inadequate funding; lack of public perception;
limited access to data; professional recruitment, training and retention;
and limited access for segments of the population; and
WHEREAS, it is incumbent
upon the State to take action at this time to undertake a comprehensive
review to determine whether the State's public health system is sufficiently
prepared to handle future public health emergencies.
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, RICHARD J. CODEY, Acting Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue
of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes
of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
- That there is
hereby established a Governor's Task Force on Public Health Emergency
Planning (Task Force).
The Task Force shall consist of twelve (12) members as follows:
- The Commissioner
of Health and Human Services, or a designee, who shall serve ex-officio;
- The Attorney
General, or a designee, who shall serve ex-officio;
- An epidemiologist;
- An expert in
infectious diseases;
- A representative
with a background in ensuring that our water supply is safe from terrorism
attack;
- A representative
with a background in ensuring that our food supply is safe from terrorist
attack;
- An expert with
a background and knowledge of coordinating the education and communication
systems needed to respond to an emergency;
- A representative
from the Public Health Association;
- The Adjutant
General of the Department of Military and Veterans Director of Affairs,
or a designee, shall serve ex-officio;
- The Director
of the Office of Emergency Management, or a designee, ex-officio;
- Two public
members appointed by the Governor who have expertise in public health
issues.
- The Task Force
shall organize and meet as soon as practicable after the appointment
of its members. The Governor shall appoint a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.
Each member shall hold office for the term of one year and until his
or her successor is appointed and qualified. A member appointed to fill
a vacancy occurring on the Task Force for any reason other than the
expiration of the term shall have a term of appointment for the unexpired
term only. A member may be appointed for any number of successive terms.
The members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed
for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as
members.
- The Task Force
is charged with:
- examining the
infrastructure of New Jersey's public health system (at all levels)
to determine whether New Jersey is ready to serve the public health
needs of its citizens in the event of a future terrorist attack or
other public health emergency;
- recommending
a single definition of "public health" to allow the more than 600
boards of health and local health officials to coordinate their efforts
and develop one coordinated public health system;
- identifying
the statutory and regulatory steps that should be taken to address
any issues and/or shortfalls identified;
- examining the
relationships between local health officials and State health officials
to determine whether there is adequate coordination and communication,
whether the creation of county health departments is necessary and
whether having approximately 525 boards of health and 115 local health
agencies properly utilizes State resources;
- determining
whether the following public health system principles are being met:
- preventing
epidemics;
- protecting
the environment, workplace, housing, food and water;
- promoting
good health behaviors;
- monitoring
the health status of the population;
- mobilizing
community action;
- responding
rapidly and effectively to disaster;
- promoting
the quality, accessibility and accountability of medical care;
- identifying
and reaching out to link high-risk and inaccessible people to needed
services;
- conducting
research to develop new insights and innovative solutions; and
- leading the
development of sound health policy and planning.
- determining
whether additional funding of our public health system is necessary;
- recommending
changes to New Jersey's public health system.
- The Task Force
shall issue a report in 6 months presenting its findings and recommendations
to the Governor and both houses of the Legislature.
- The Task Force
is authorized to call upon any department, office or agency of State
government to provide such information, resources or other assistance
deemed necessary to discharge it responsibilities under this Order.
Each department, office or division and agency of the State is hereby
directed, to the extent not inconsistent with law and within budgetary
constraints to cooperate with the Task Force to furnish it with such
information, personnel and assistance as is necessary to accomplish
the purpose of this Order.
- This Order shall
take effect immediately.
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GIVEN, under
my hand and seal
this 14th day of January in the Year
of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Two
and of the Independence of the
United States, the Two Hundred
and Twenty-Sixth.
/s/ Richard
J. Codey
President
of the Senate, Acting Governor
[seal]
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Attest:
/s/ James A. Harkness
Chief Counsel to
the Governor
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