Assessing Cross-Sectoral and Cross-Jurisdictional Coordination for Public Health Emergency Legal Preparedness

Abstract

A community's abilities to promote health and maximize its response to public health threats require fulfillment of one of the four elements of public health legal preparedness, the capacity to effectively coordinate law-based efforts across different governmental jurisdictions, as well as across multiple sectors and disciplines. Government jurisdictions can be viewed “vertically” in that response efforts may entail coordination in the application of laws across multiple levels, including local, state, tribal, and federal governments, and even with international organizations. Coordination of legal responses to public health emergencies also may involve a horizontal dimension comprising numerous and diverse sectors, such as public health, public and private health care, emergency management, education, law enforcement, the judiciary, and the military.Although responses to many acute health threats can implicate multiple jurisdictions and sectors, the jurisdictional and sectoral dimensions of legal preparedness are complex and may vary substantially by the nature of a threat, its geographic and geopolitical extent, and the operational response demanded.

Improving Competencies for Public Health Emergency Legal Preparedness

“…Through such an academy, expert faculty could be drawn from across the country; the full range of interested professional communities could participate in sessions that demonstrate the cross-sectoral collaboration essential to effective public health emergency legal practice; and a common interpretation of key competencies could be assured. 6 • Create communities of practice, both horizontally across all levels (community, region, state, tribal, national) and vertically ( from local health agency to state and federal counterparts), to stimulate the development of best legal practices in public health emergency preparedness for specific communities and specific types of emergency events. As discussed in other action agendas, a professional's isolation from those doing overlapping work may limit his or her ability to perform effectively.…”

EMAC Volunteers: Liability and Workers' Compensation

“…Using mutual aid agreements where possible, as an alternative to additional legislation, could facilitate these efforts and help achieve these goals. Although work has been published on mutual aid agreements and cross-jurisdictional coordination, 29,52,53 further scholarship is needed to address the applicability and mechanics of mutual aid agreements to address the liability concerns of volunteer health practitioners and their relationship to EMAC.…”

Legal rights during pandemics: Federalism, rights and public health laws – a view from Australia

“…34 In Australia and elsewhere, cross-jurisdictional and interagency cooperation are essential components in effective emergency responses. 35,36 At an international level, the International Health Regulations (IHR) provide a framework for notification and response to infectious diseases. First introduced in 1951 as the International Sanitary Regulations, and renamed in 1969, the IHR required Member States to notify the World Health Organization of cases of plague, cholera and yellow fever.…”