Delaware 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Delaware House Bill HB71 Draft / Bill

                    SPONSOR:      Rep. Schwartzkopf & Sen. Sokola       Reps. Baumbach, Dukes, Gray, Griffith, Hilovsky, Osienski, Ramone, D. Short; Sens. Gay, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Pettyjohn, Poore, Townsend, Walsh, Wilson           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       HOUSE BILL NO. 71       AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 RELATING TO THE LYME DISEASE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT BOARD.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Rep. Schwartzkopf & Sen. Sokola       Reps. Baumbach, Dukes, Gray, Griffith, Hilovsky, Osienski, Ramone, D. Short; Sens. Gay, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Pettyjohn, Poore, Townsend, Walsh, Wilson     

SPONSOR: Rep. Schwartzkopf & Sen. Sokola
Reps. Baumbach, Dukes, Gray, Griffith, Hilovsky, Osienski, Ramone, D. Short; Sens. Gay, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Pettyjohn, Poore, Townsend, Walsh, Wilson

 SPONSOR:  

 Rep. Schwartzkopf & Sen. Sokola 

 Reps. Baumbach, Dukes, Gray, Griffith, Hilovsky, Osienski, Ramone, D. Short; Sens. Gay, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Pettyjohn, Poore, Townsend, Walsh, Wilson 

   

 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 HOUSE BILL NO. 71 

   

 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 RELATING TO THE LYME DISEASE EDUCATION OVERSIGHT BOARD. 

   

  BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:    Section 1. Amend Chapter 1, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:     140. Lyme Disease Education Oversight Board [Expires Aug. 29, 2024, pursuant to 80 Del. Laws, c. 402, 2].    (a) The Lyme Disease Education Oversight Board (the Board) is established to implement health-care professional education on Lyme disease to improve understanding of the disease.  The goal of the Board is to educate health-care professionals regarding the need for a unified strategy to combat Lyme disease and other tick-related diseases in Delaware.  For administrative and budgetary purposes only, the Board shall be placed within the Department of Health and Social Services. The Delaware Division of Public Health shall provide staff support for the Board.    (c) The Board shall:    (1) Determine the content of Lyme disease medical education materials, ensuring quality and balanced medical education by including the philosophies of the Centers For Disease Control, the guidelines established by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, as well as the latest scientific evidence and research  relating to Lyme disease and other tick-related diseases .    (2) Educate health-care professionals in the State that Lyme disease  and other tick-related diseases  can be diagnosed clinically based on history and physical examination, and serologic antibody testing can confirm, but is not required to make, a clinical diagnosis.    (3) Educate health-care professionals to develop a high level of awareness of Lyme disease  and other tick-related diseases .    (4) In conjunction with the Medical Society of Delaware and the Delaware Nurses Association, develop continuing medical education credits and nursing continuing education units on Lyme disease  and other tick-related diseases  and encourage health-care professionals to take the continuing education courses as soon as reasonably practicable.    (5) Host continuing medical education and nursing continuing education trainings  relating to Lyme disease and other tick-related diseases  in all 3 counties and, if reasonably practicable, at hospitals to encourage the largest possible attendance by health-care professionals.    (6) Deliver education in a variety of methods, using professional associations, medical journals, radio, Internet, conferences, and linking medical training with a public awareness campaign  relating to Lyme disease and other tick-related diseases .   Section 2. This Act supersedes the sunset provision provided in 80 Del. Laws c. 402 1.   Section 3. The Lyme Disease Education Oversight Board expires in 2032 unless otherwise provided by a subsequent act of the General Assembly.      

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE: 

  Section 1. Amend Chapter 1, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows: 

   140. Lyme Disease Education Oversight Board [Expires Aug. 29, 2024, pursuant to 80 Del. Laws, c. 402, 2]. 

  (a) The Lyme Disease Education Oversight Board (the Board) is established to implement health-care professional education on Lyme disease to improve understanding of the disease.  The goal of the Board is to educate health-care professionals regarding the need for a unified strategy to combat Lyme disease and other tick-related diseases in Delaware.  For administrative and budgetary purposes only, the Board shall be placed within the Department of Health and Social Services. The Delaware Division of Public Health shall provide staff support for the Board. 

  (c) The Board shall: 

  (1) Determine the content of Lyme disease medical education materials, ensuring quality and balanced medical education by including the philosophies of the Centers For Disease Control, the guidelines established by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, as well as the latest scientific evidence and research  relating to Lyme disease and other tick-related diseases . 

  (2) Educate health-care professionals in the State that Lyme disease  and other tick-related diseases  can be diagnosed clinically based on history and physical examination, and serologic antibody testing can confirm, but is not required to make, a clinical diagnosis. 

  (3) Educate health-care professionals to develop a high level of awareness of Lyme disease  and other tick-related diseases . 

  (4) In conjunction with the Medical Society of Delaware and the Delaware Nurses Association, develop continuing medical education credits and nursing continuing education units on Lyme disease  and other tick-related diseases  and encourage health-care professionals to take the continuing education courses as soon as reasonably practicable. 

  (5) Host continuing medical education and nursing continuing education trainings  relating to Lyme disease and other tick-related diseases  in all 3 counties and, if reasonably practicable, at hospitals to encourage the largest possible attendance by health-care professionals. 

  (6) Deliver education in a variety of methods, using professional associations, medical journals, radio, Internet, conferences, and linking medical training with a public awareness campaign  relating to Lyme disease and other tick-related diseases . 

 Section 2. This Act supersedes the sunset provision provided in 80 Del. Laws c. 402 1. 

 Section 3. The Lyme Disease Education Oversight Board expires in 2032 unless otherwise provided by a subsequent act of the General Assembly. 

   

  SYNOPSIS   This bill clarifies that the goal and function of the Lyme Disease Education Oversight Board includes Lyme Disease and other tick-related diseases. This Act supersedes the previous sunset provision that established the Board in House Bill 291 from the 148th General Assembly (80 Del. Laws c. 402 1) and extends the Boards existence until 2032 unless otherwise provided by a subsequent act of the General Assembly.      

 SYNOPSIS 

 This bill clarifies that the goal and function of the Lyme Disease Education Oversight Board includes Lyme Disease and other tick-related diseases. This Act supersedes the previous sunset provision that established the Board in House Bill 291 from the 148th General Assembly (80 Del. Laws c. 402 1) and extends the Boards existence until 2032 unless otherwise provided by a subsequent act of the General Assembly.