Infectious Disease Testing Bill Passes House

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Published on March 21 2017 3:51 pm
Last Updated on March 21 2017 3:51 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

State Representative John Cavaletto (R-Salem), Republican Spokesperson for the Fire & Emergency Services Committee, announced that HB 3002 passed unanimously out of the Illinois House. The new law would expand the scope of testing beyond just HIV to include all infectious diseases when a first responder or law enforcement personnel is accidentally exposed to a suspects bodily fluids through being spit upon or stuck by a drug needle.

“The idea for this legislation came from the Marion County Sheriff’s office as a result of multiple incidents where law enforcement personnel were accidentally exposed from drug needle sticks while arresting people,” explained Rep. Cavaletto. “The law in Illinois only allows for testing of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus that causes AIDS) and not any other infectious diseases like hepatitis for example. This new law will help protect our first responders as well as their spouses and children from being unknowingly exposed to life-threatening and life-altering diseases,” Cavaletto added.

The most recent incident to bring urgency to this infectious disease testing initiative involved a member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security who was assisting local law enforcement on serving a warrant and making an arrest. That officer was stuck by a needle while searching the premises of the arrest and only because the suspect eventually voluntarily agreed to have their blood tested, that it was discovered they carried a contagious virus (not HIV). But by this time the spouse and children of the US Marshall had already been exposed.

“Thank you, Mr. Cavaletto,” said Detective Anthony Decker of the Marion County Sheriff’s Department who brought this matter to the Representative’s attention. “I’m sorry it took an incident where innocent family members became exposed through no fault of their own to start the process to change and update the law,” Detective Decker commented.

In the hearing, no opposition appeared, but a number of groups supporting this legislation appeared as witnesses in favor including the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, Fire Chief EMS Committee, State Ambulance Association, State Medical Society, and the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing. This bill now goes over to the Illinois Senate for consideration.