• Date Due: December 01, 2024
  • Author: Joint Subcommittee to Study Pandemic Response and Preparedness in the Commonwealth
  • Enabling Authority: Appropriation Act - Item 6 D. (Special Session I, 2024)
  • Description:
    Report on the findings and recommendations of the Joint Subcommittee convened to study the performance of existing laws in the Commonwealth in relation to the Commonwealth's pandemic response and develop recommendations regarding: (i) the scope of the Governor's powers in long-term states of emergency and the feasibility of legislative oversight of such powers; (ii) the adequacy, resilience, and performance of the General Assembly and local governments; (iii) the adequacy, resilience, and performance of public and private health care systems, pharmacies, hospitals, independent providers, health system providers, federally qualified health centers, urgent care centers, long-term care agencies and organizations, and congregate care facilities, including (a) an assessment of the readiness of all such facilities and providers to implement infection prevention and control measures in order to prevent and stop the spread of infectious diseases and (b) an assessment of the adequacy of regulations relating to vulnerable Virginians, including the elderly, the infirm, and children; (iv) the adequacy, resilience, and performance of the emergency management and public health care systems, including (a) the need for stockpiling and planning for distribution of pandemic response supplies and materials, (b) the performance of local health districts and the feasibility of allowing for local decision-making during pandemics, in contrast to delivery of routine services, and (c) the existing system's ability to detect and prevent future outbreaks and deploy health care solutions; (v) the adequacy, resilience, and performance of the judicial system and the need to develop future emergency plans to facilitate better responsiveness; (vi) the adequacy, resilience, and performance of Virginia Freedom of Information Act, homeowners' association, and corporate meeting rules and the need to develop future emergency plans to facilitate better responsiveness; (vii) the adequacy, resilience, and performance of the K-12 and higher education systems and the need to develop future emergency plans to facilitate better responsiveness; and (viii) the adequacy, resilience, and performance of the business regulatory system and the need to develop future emergency plans to facilitate better responsiveness.