Lyme Disease: Reporting Requirements (language only)

Item 85 #1s

Language
Page 75, following line 10, insert:
"A. That the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, with the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, shall convene all relevant state and local agency representatives, including the Department of Health, Department of Health Professions, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Department of Forestry, medical professionals and representatives of organizations for affected citizens to:
1. Identify those areas of the Commonwealth with a high prevalence of Lyme disease as the first sites for the implementation of "point of disease" prevention strategies, including USDA-approved vaccines;
2. Determine the estimated costs of implementing such a program in the identified areas of the Commonwealth; and
3. Identify sources of revenue to pay for the cost, including but not limited to federal grants, local match, private foundations and state funds.
The Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry shall report on the recommendations of the stakeholder group to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance by October 1, 2015."

Explanation
(This amendment requires the creation of a Lyme disease task force and reporting of its recommended prevention strategies by October 1, 2015.)