HCS HB 1947 -- BIOLOGICAL AGENTS REGISTRY

SPONSOR:  Barry (Reid)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Children,
Families and Health by a vote of 13 to 2.

This substitute requires the Department of Health and Senior
Services to establish and administer a biological agents registry
by January 1, 2003.

Persons who possess biological agents are required to submit
specified information for inclusion in the registry.  If a person
who possesses biological agents discovers that a theft, loss, or
release of a biological agent has occurred, the person is
required to alert the department immediately or no later than
four hours after the discovery.

Information prepared for and maintained in the registry is
confidential and not a public record.  The department is
authorized to release information contained in the registry for
the purposes of conducting or aiding in a communicable disease
investigation.  The department is required to cooperate and may
release information to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and state and federal law enforcement agencies in the
event that a theft, loss, or release of a biological agent has
occurred.  The substitute prohibits the release of information
contained in the registry from being classified as a public
record.

Persons who violate the provisions of the substitute will be
subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000.  Continuing
violations of the substitute are classified as separate offenses.

Upon the establishment and implementation of a biological agents
registry program that preempts the Missouri program as determined
by the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services,
the provisions of the substitute will expire and notification of
the expiration date of the Missouri program will be given to the
Revisor of Statutes by the director.

FISCAL NOTE:  Not available at time of printing.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that it is important to establish a
biological agents registry program that will compliment a state
emergency response plan.  Because of the terrorist attack last
year and the subsequent release of anthrax, state agencies,
public health and law enforcement agencies, and citizens should
become more vigilant about the illegal use of biological agents.

Testifying for the bill was Representative Reid.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Joseph Deering, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:03 am