Sec. 19a-131k. Mandatory distribution of potassium iodide.

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Child care service” means a child care center, group child care home or family child care home, as defined in section 19a-77, and licensed pursuant to section 19a-80 or 19a-87b;

(2) “Public health emergency” means a public health emergency, as defined in section 19a-131;

(3) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Public Health;

(4) “Nursing home facility” means any nursing home, as defined in section 19a-521, but shall not include residential care homes; and

(5) “Youth camp” means any facility licensed pursuant to chapter 368r.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, each nursing home facility, child care service or youth camp shall provide potassium iodide to residents, staff members, minors or other persons present in such facility, service or camp when directed by the commissioner during a public health emergency. Each nursing home facility, child care service or youth camp shall (1) upon admitting a resident or minor to, or upon hiring a staff member for, such facility, notify each resident or representative of a resident, staff member or parent or guardian of a minor of the requirement for the provision of potassium iodide under this subsection and obtain prior written permission or written objection for such provision from each such person, and (2) prior to obtaining such written permission or written objection, advise each such person, in writing, (A) that the ingestion of potassium iodide is voluntary only, (B) about the contraindications of taking potassium iodide, and (C) about the potential side effects of taking potassium iodide.

(c) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish criteria and procedures for obtaining the required written permission, and for the storage and distribution of potassium iodide to residents, staff members, minors or other persons present in such facility, service or camp.

(P.A. 03-236, S. 15; P.A. 07-129, S. 5; P.A. 15-227, S. 25.)

History: P.A. 03-236 effective July 9, 2003; P.A. 07-129 amended Subsec. (b) to provide for mandatory distribution of potassium iodide by nursing home facilities, child day care services or youth camps during public health emergencies; pursuant to P.A. 15-227, “child day care center”, “group day care home” and “family day care home” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “child care center”, “group child care home” and “family child care home”, respectively, and references to child day care service were changed editorially by the Revisors to references to child care service, effective July 1, 2015.