Tuberculosis Act Needed to Reduce Cases

from "Public Policy Update", Breathe Easy news magazine, Fall 2002/Winter 2003

The number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in California rose for the first time in eight years, increasing the need for the Omnibus Tuberculosis Control and Prevention Act (Senate Bill 843, Perata, D-Oakland) to reduce the impact of TB. The American Lung Association of California supported SB 843, which will authorize local health officers to certify tuberculin skin test technicians and require parole agents to be notified when an inmate with TB is released from prison.

SB 843 will help maximize local public health resources by increasing the number of people who are qualified to give TB skin tests and by providing a treatment plan to local health officers where infected parolees intend to reside.