*Annotations to former chapter 335:
History of law. 76 C. 162.
City has power to enforce municipal housing code. 36 CS 103.
Sec. 19a-202b. Payments to municipalities: Distribution of excess funds.
Sec. 19a-203. (Formerly Sec. 19-76). “Director of health” substituted for “health officer”.
Sec. 19a-204. (Formerly Sec. 19-77). Certificate of appointment to be filed.
Sec. 19a-205. (Formerly Sec. 19-78). Salaries of directors of health.
Sec. 19a-207. (Formerly Sec. 19-80). Duties of local officials. Emergencies. Regulations.
Sec. 19a-207a. Basic health program.
Sec. 19a-208. (Formerly Sec. 19-81). Health conferences.
Sec. 19a-209. (Formerly Sec. 19-83). Jurisdiction of local director of health over streams.
Sec. 19a-209b. Prohibited discontinuance of water service from private residential wells.
Sec. 19a-209d. Permit for replacement public wells.
Sec. 19a-210. (Formerly Sec. 19-84). Removal of refuse.
Sec. 19a-211. (Formerly Sec. 19-85). Toilets in public places.
Sec. 19a-212. (Formerly Sec. 19-86). Nuisance arising from swampy lands.
Sec. 19a-213. (Formerly Sec. 19-87). Mosquito-breeding places; treatment.
Sec. 19a-219. (Formerly Sec. 19-92). Prevention of blindness in newborn infants.
Sec. 19a-220. (Formerly Sec. 19-93). Enforcement of orders of health authorities.
Sec. 19a-222. (Formerly Sec. 19-95). Vaccination.
Sec. 19a-223. (Formerly Sec. 19-96). Municipalities may contract for health services.
Sec. 19a-224. (Formerly Sec. 19-97). Fish scrap and fertilizer.
Sec. 19a-226. (Formerly Sec. 19-99). Unloading and transportation of fertilizers.
Sec. 19a-227. (Formerly Sec. 19-101). Anchorage of houseboats.
Sec. 19a-228. (Formerly Sec. 19-102). Penalty for anchoring within designated limits.
Sec. 19a-229. (Formerly Sec. 19-103). Appeal.
Sec. 19a-230. (Formerly Sec. 19-104). Penalty.
Secs. 19a-233 to 19a-239. Reserved
Sec. 19a-200. (Formerly Sec. 19-75). City, borough and town directors of health. Sanitarians. Authorized agents. (a) The mayor of each city, the chief executive officer of each town and the warden of each borough shall, unless the charter of such city, town or borough otherwise provides, nominate some person to be director of health for such city, town or borough. Such person shall possess the qualifications specified in subsection (b) of this section. Upon approval of the Commissioner of Public Health, such nomination shall be confirmed or rejected by the board of selectmen, if there be such a board, otherwise by the legislative body of such city or town or by the burgesses of such borough within thirty days thereafter.
(b) Notwithstanding the charter provisions of any city, town or borough with respect to the qualifications of the director of health, on and after October 1, 2010, any person nominated to be a director of health shall (1) be a licensed physician and hold a degree in public health from an accredited school, college, university or institution, or (2) hold a graduate degree in public health from an accredited institution of higher education. The educational requirements of this section shall not apply to any director of health nominated or otherwise appointed as director of health prior to October 1, 2010.
(c) In cities, towns or boroughs with a population of forty thousand or more for five consecutive years, according to the estimated population figures authorized pursuant to subsection (b) of section 8-159a, such director of health shall serve in a full-time capacity, except where a town has designated such director as the chief medical advisor for its public schools under section 10-205.
(d) No director shall, during such director's term of office, have any financial interest in or engage in any employment, transaction or professional activity that is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of the duties required of directors of health by the general statutes or the regulations of Connecticut state agencies or specified by the appointing authority of the city, town or borough in its written agreement with such director. A written agreement with such director shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Public Health by such appointing authority upon such director's appointment or reappointment.
(e) Such director of health shall have and exercise within the limits of the city, town or borough for which such director is appointed all powers necessary for enforcing the general statutes, provisions of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies relating to the preservation and improvement of the public health and preventing the spread of diseases therein.
(f) In case of the absence or inability to act of a city, town or borough director of health or if a vacancy exists in the office of such director, the appointing authority of such city, town or borough may, with the approval of the Commissioner of Public Health, designate in writing a suitable person to serve as acting director of health during the period of such absence or inability or vacancy and such person's start date. The commissioner may appoint such acting director if the city, town or borough fails to do so. The person so designated, when sworn, shall have all the powers and be subject to all the duties of such director.
(g) In case of vacancy in the office of such director, if such vacancy exists for sixty days, said commissioner may appoint a director of health for such city, town or borough. The person so designated, when sworn, shall (1) be considered an employee of the city, town or borough, and (2) have all the powers and be subject to all the duties of such director.
(h) In case of the absence or inability to act of a city, town or borough director of health during a public health emergency declared pursuant to section 19a-131a, the appointing authority of such city, town or borough shall, with the approval of the Commissioner of Public Health, designate in writing a suitable person to serve as acting director of health during the period of such absence or inability or vacancy and such person's start date. If the city, town or borough fails to appoint such acting director of health, or fails to notify the commissioner of such appointment within thirty days, the commissioner shall appoint an acting director who meets the qualifications specified in subsection (b) of this section. The person designated as acting director of health pursuant to this subsection, when sworn, shall (1) be considered an employee of the city, town or borough, and (2) have all the powers and be subject to all the duties of such director.
(i) Said commissioner, may, for cause, remove an officer the commissioner or any predecessor in said office has appointed, and the common council of such city, town or the burgesses of such borough may, respectively, for cause, remove a director whose nomination has been confirmed by them, provided such removal shall be approved by said commissioner; and, within two days thereafter, notice in writing of such action shall be given by the clerk of such city, town or borough, as the case may be, to said commissioner, who shall, within ten days after receipt, file with the clerk from whom the notice was received, approval or disapproval.
(j) Each such director of health shall hold office for the term of four years from the date of appointment and until a successor is nominated and confirmed in accordance with this section.
(k) Each director of health shall, annually, at the end of the fiscal year, submit a report to the Department of Public Health detailing the activities of such director during the preceding fiscal year.
(l) On and after July 1, 1988, each city, town and borough shall provide for the services of a sanitarian licensed under chapter 395 to work under the direction of the local director of health. Where practical, the local director of health may act as the sanitarian.
(m) As used in this chapter, “authorized agent” means a sanitarian licensed under chapter 395 and any individual certified for a specific program of environmental health by the Commissioner of Public Health in accordance with the general statutes and regulations of Connecticut state agencies.
(1949 Rev., S. 3848; 1971, P.A. 325, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 65; 239, S. 2; P.A. 75-352; 75-573, S. 1; P.A. 77-598, S. 1; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 63, 136; P.A. 84-26, S. 1; P.A. 87-521, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 12; P.A. 92-8, S. 2; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 99-125, S. 2; P.A. 10-117, S. 45; P.A. 16-66, S. 40; P.A. 18-168, S. 58; P.A. 21-35, S. 20.)
History: 1971 act included directors of health for towns nominated by town chief executive officer; 1972 acts deleted general requirement that nominees be “discreet” and “learned in medical and sanitary science”, requiring instead that all nominees be licensed physicians or possessors of “graduate” degree in public health “including at least sixty hours in local public health administration”, required that in places with population of 40,000 or more, director must not engage in private practice, required confirmation or rejection of nominee by “legislative body” rather than by “common council” and modified requirement that health director devote full time to duties by allowing him to serve as chief medical advisor for public schools; P.A. 75-352 made qualifications for health director mandatory “notwithstanding the charter provisions of any city, town or borough” with respect to such qualifications; P.A. 75-573 specified action on nomination to be taken by board of selectmen if there is one; P.A. 77-598 clarified reference to appointment of interim director in cases where vacancy exists in the office; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner and department of health with commissioner and department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 required approval of training and experience of health directors by commissioner rather than public health council and removed provision requiring consent of public health council for removal of officer; Sec. 19-75 transferred to Sec. 19a-200 in 1983; P.A. 84-26 authorized the appointing authority of a city, town or borough to appoint an acting director of health during a period of absence, inability or vacancy in the office provided the commissioner may appoint such director if the local authority fails to do so; P.A. 87-521 redefined powers of the director of health to include those necessary to enforce applicable statutes and provisions of the health code and added Subsecs. (b) and (c) re sanitarians and authorized agents; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 amended Subsec. (a) to require that department use its own estimated population figures rather than those of the latest federal census; P.A. 92-8 amended Subsec. (a) to require a full-time director of health in towns with a population of 40,000 or more for five consecutive years; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-125 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring directors in cities, towns or boroughs with a population of 40,000 or more to “serve in a full-time capacity” rather than “devote his entire time to the duties of his office” and making technical changes; P.A. 10-117 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring that on and after October 1, 2010, any person nominated to be director of health shall be a licensed physician with a degree in public health or hold a graduate degree in public health, by deleting former training and experience requirements and by exempting persons appointed or nominated to be director of health prior to October 1, 2010, from revised educational requirements; P.A. 16-66 amended Subsec. (a) to replace provision re engaging in private practice with provision re director not to have financial interest in or engage in any employment, transaction or professional activity that substantially conflicts with proper discharge of duties during director's term of office, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 18-168 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical changes and replacing “school, college or institution” with “institution of higher education”, and replacing “Public Health Code” with “regulations of Connecticut state agencies”, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “municipality” with “city, town and borough”, and replacing “certified” with “licensed”, and amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “certified” with “licensed”, and replacing “Public Health Code” with “general statutes and regulations of Connecticut state agencies”, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 21-35 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re director of health qualifications and re approval of Commissioner of Public Heath, designated existing provision re nominee qualifications as new Subsec. (b), designated existing provision re cities, towns or boroughs with population of 40,000 or more as new Subsec. (c), designated existing provision re substantial conflict as Subsec. (d) and amended same to add provision re submission of written agreement, designated existing provision re powers as Subsec. (e), designated existing provision re absence or inability to act as Subsec. (f) and amended the same to add provision re inclusion of start date, designated existing provision re vacancy as Subsec. (g) and amended the same to replace 30 days with 60 days re length of vacancy and add provision re when person designated is sworn, added Subsec. (h) re absence or inability to act during public health emergency, designated existing provision re removal as Subsec. (i), designated existing provision re term as Subsec. (j), designated existing provision re annual report as Subsec. (k), redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) and (c) as Subsecs. (l) and (m), and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 21-121 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re director of health qualifications and re approval of Commissioner of Public Heath, designated existing provision re nominee qualifications as new Subsec. (b), designated existing provision re cities, towns or boroughs with population of 40,000 or more as new Subsec. (c), designated existing provision re substantial conflict as Subsec. (d) and amended same to add provision re submission of written agreement, designated existing provision re powers as Subsec. (e), designated existing provision re absence or inability to act as Subsec. (f) and amended the same to add provision re inclusion of start date, designated existing provision re vacancy as Subsec. (g) and amended the same to replace 30 days with 60 days re length of vacancy and add provision re when person designated is sworn, designated existing provision re removal as Subsec. (h), codified by the Revisors as Subsec. (i), designated existing provision re term as Subsec. (i), codified by the Revisors as Subsec. (j), designated existing provision re annual report as Subsec. (j), codified by the Revisors as Subsec. (k), redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) and (c) as Subsecs. (k) and (l), codified by the Revisors as Subsecs. (l) and (m), and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2021.
Annotations to former section 19-75:
Requires appointment of single official by method pointed out. 74 C. 695. Origin and effect of exception as to special charters. 86 C. 61. Borough health officer can make lawful quarantine order. Id., 680. A term fixed by statute cannot be changed by the appointing power; history of statute; when commencement of term fixed by the appointment first made, each term commences at end of preceding term. 121 C. 300.
Distinction between de jure and de facto vacancy; respective power of mayor and county health office to appoint city health officer discussed. 3 CS 154.
Annotations to present section:
Section makes a distinction between qualifications required for a director of health, who must either be a licensed physician and hold a degree in public health or hold a graduate degree in public health, and those for acting director of health, stating that an acting director of health need only be suitable. 221 CA 223.
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Sec. 19a-201. (Formerly Sec. 19-75a). Appointment of director by municipality or district and hospital jointly. Section 19a-201 is repealed, effective July 1, 1997.
(1971, P.A. 337; P.A. 78-303, S. 64, 136; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 87, 88.)
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Sec. 19a-202. (Formerly Sec. 19-75b). Payments to municipalities. Proportionate reduction of amount of payments to municipal health department. (a) Upon application to the Department of Public Health any municipal health department shall annually receive from the state an amount equal to one dollar and ninety-three cents per capita, provided such municipality (1) employs a full-time director of health, except that if a vacancy exists in the office of director of health or the office is filled by an acting director for more than three months, such municipality shall not be eligible for funding unless the Commissioner of Public Health waives this requirement; (2) submits a public health program and budget which is approved by the Commissioner of Public Health; (3) appropriates not less than one dollar per capita, from the annual tax receipts, for health department services; (4) has a population of fifty thousand or more; and (5) meets the requirements of section 19a-207a, within available appropriations. Such municipal department of health may use additional funds, which the Department of Public Health may secure from federal agencies or any other source and which it may allot to such municipal department of health. The money so received shall be disbursed upon warrants approved by the chief executive officer of such municipality. The Comptroller shall annually in July and upon a voucher of the Commissioner of Public Health, draw the Comptroller's order on the State Treasurer in favor of such municipal department of health for the amount due in accordance with the provisions of this section and under rules prescribed by the commissioner. Any moneys remaining unexpended at the end of a fiscal year shall be included in the budget of such municipal department of health for the ensuing year. This aid shall be rendered from appropriations made from time to time by the General Assembly to the Department of Public Health for this purpose.
(b) The amount of payments made by the state to municipal health departments under subsection (a) of this section shall be reduced proportionately in the event that the total amount of such payments and the payments made under subsection (a) of section 19a-245 in a fiscal year exceeds the amount appropriated for purposes of said subsections with respect to such fiscal year.
(P.A. 78-251, S. 3, 4, 7; P.A. 85-421, S. 1, 3; P.A. 87-414, S. 1, 3; P.A. 92-30; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-180, S. 57, 166; P.A. 98-250, S. 16, 39; P.A. 00-216, S. 1, 28; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-2, S. 61; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 40; P.A. 14-226, S. 2; P.A. 19-117, S. 76; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 20.)
History: Sec. 19-75b transferred to Sec. 19a-202 in 1983; P.A. 85-421 increased annual per capita payment to municipal health departments from $0.20 to $0.30; P.A. 87-414 increased the per capita payments to municipal health departments from to $0.52; P.A. 92-30 changed payment by the comptroller from September to July; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-180 changed “treasurer” to “State Treasurer”, effective June 3, 1996; P.A. 98-250 increased the amount received from the state from $0.52 to $1.02, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-216 made technical changes and increased annual per capita payment to $1.13, effective July 1, 2000; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 decreased annual per capita payment to $0.94, effective August 20, 2003; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-2 increased per capita payment to municipal health departments from $0.94 to $1.18 and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2007; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 added Subdiv. (4) requiring that municipality have population of 50,000 or more to be eligible for state payments, effective October 6, 2009; P.A. 14-226 added Subdiv. (5) re requirements of Sec. 19a-207a; P.A. 19-117 designated existing provisions re amount each municipal health department is to receive from the state as Subsec. (a), and added Subsec. (b) re proportionate reduction of payments made by the state to municipal health departments, effective July 1, 2019; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (a) to increase per capita payment to municipal health departments from $1.18 to $1.93, effective July 1, 2021.
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Sec. 19a-202a. Requirements re municipality designating itself as having a part-time health department. Any municipality may designate itself as having a part-time health department if: (1) The municipality has not had a full-time health department or been in a full-time health district as of January 1, 1998, and (2) the municipality has the equivalent of at least one full-time employee, as determined by the Commissioner of Public Health, who performs public health functions required by the general statutes and the regulations of Connecticut states agencies.
(P.A. 98-250, S. 18, 39; P.A. 99-125, S. 3; P.A. 00-216, S. 2, 28; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 2; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 39; P.A. 21-121, S. 24.)
History: P.A. 98-250 effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 99-125 amended Subsec. (b)(3) to require that the municipality “annually submits a public health program plan and budget to the commissioner” rather than “develops a plan and timetable for the provision of health services”, amended Subsec. (c) to change “plan and timetable” to “program plan and budget” and made technical changes; P.A. 00-216 amended Subsec. (a) to increase annual per capita payment from $0.53 to $0.59, effective July 1, 2000; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 amended Subsec. (a) to decrease annual per capita payment to $0.49, effective August 20, 2003; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 deleted former Subsec. (a) re state payments to part-time health departments, redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) and (c) as Subsecs. (a) and (b) and made a conforming change in redesignated Subsec. (b), effective October 6, 2009; P.A. 21-121 amended Subsec. (a) to delete Subsec. designator, replaced “prior to” with “as of” in Subdiv. (1), added provision re performance of public health functions in Subdiv. (2), deleted former Subdivs. (3) and (4) re submission and approval of program plan and budget, deleted former Subsec. (b) re regulations and made a conforming change, effective July 1, 2021.
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Sec. 19a-202b. Payments to municipalities: Distribution of excess funds. Section 19a-202b is repealed, effective July 1, 2019.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 1, 72; P.A. 19-117, S. 398.)
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Sec. 19a-203. (Formerly Sec. 19-76). “Director of health” substituted for “health officer”. Section 19a-203 is repealed, effective October 1, 2002.
(1953, S. 2065d; S.A. 02-12, S. 1.)
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Sec. 19a-204. (Formerly Sec. 19-77). Certificate of appointment to be filed. The certificate of the appointment of any town, borough or city director of health shall be filed with the Commissioner of Public Health by the person making such appointment, and if such director is also, by reason of any special act, the registrar of vital statistics of such municipality, the person making such appointment shall, within ten days, transmit to the Secretary of the State and to the clerk of the municipality for which such appointment is made a certified notice of such appointment. Such notice shall be in substantially the following form:
I hereby certify that .... was appointed on the .... day of ...., A.D. 20.. Director of Health of the town (borough, city) of .... and, under special act, the registrar of births, marriages and deaths of such town (borough, city) from the .... day of ...., A.D. 20.. until the .... day of ...., A.D. 20...
Certification and Signature
Said secretary and such clerk shall each, in a book kept by him for the purpose, record the names of such registrars and may severally certify that the persons named in such records are the registrars of vital statistics of their respective towns, boroughs and cities for the period for which they were respectively appointed. Each town, borough and city director of health, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall be sworn to the faithful discharge thereof.
(1949 Rev., S. 3849; 1955, S. 2066d; 1967, P.A. 59, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1967 act substituted clerk of the municipality for probate court clerk as recorder of appointment; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of health with commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-77 transferred to Sec. 19a-204 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; (Revisor's note: In 2001 the references in this section to the date “19..” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “20..” to reflect the new millennium).
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Sec. 19a-205. (Formerly Sec. 19-78). Salaries of directors of health. Each town director of health shall be paid by the treasurer of the town in which he has exercised the duties of his office for his actual services and necessary expenses. Bills for actual services and necessary expenses shall be rendered by each town director of health on the first days of April, July, October and January for the preceding three months. Each city and borough director of health shall receive such compensation as is fixed by the common council or burgesses of the city or borough for which he is appointed, but, if such compensation is not so fixed, he shall receive payment for his actual services and necessary expenses.
(1949 Rev., S. 3631; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 92-8, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of health with commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-78 transferred to Sec. 19a-205 in 1983; P.A. 92-8 deleted requirement that commissioner of health services approve salaries.
Annotation to former section 19-78:
“Expenses” defined. 76 C. 167.
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Sec. 19a-206. (Formerly Sec. 19-79). Duties of municipal directors of health. Nuisances and sources of filth. Injunctions. Civil penalties. Authority of town director within city or borough. Availability of relocation assistance. (a) Town, city and borough directors of health or their authorized agents shall, within their respective jurisdictions, examine all nuisances and sources of filth injurious to the public health, cause such nuisances to be abated or remediated and cause to be removed all filth which in their judgment may endanger the health of the inhabitants. Any owner or occupant of any property who maintains such property, whether real or personal, or any part thereof, in a manner which violates the provisions of the Public Health Code enacted pursuant to the authority of sections 19a-36 and 19a-37 shall be deemed to be maintaining a nuisance or source of filth injurious to the public health. Any local director of health or his authorized agent or a sanitarian authorized by such director may enter all places within his jurisdiction where there is just cause to suspect any nuisance or source of filth exists, and abate or remediate or cause to be abated or remediated such nuisance and remove or cause to be removed such filth.
(b) When any such nuisance or source of filth is found on private property, such director of health shall order the owner or occupant of such property, or both, to remove, abate or remediate the same within such time as the director directs. If the owner of such property is a registrant, such director may deliver the order in accordance with section 7-148ii, provided nothing in this section shall preclude a director from providing notice in another manner permitted by applicable law. If such order is not complied with within the time fixed by such director: (1) Such director, or any official of such town, city or borough authorized to institute actions on behalf of such town, city or borough, may institute and maintain a civil action for injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to require the abatement or remediation of such nuisance, the removal of such filth and the restraining and prohibiting of acts which caused such nuisance or filth, and such court shall have power to grant such injunctive relief upon notice and hearing; (2) (A) the owner or occupant of such property, or both, shall be subject to a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars per day for each day such nuisance is maintained or such filth is allowed to remain after the time fixed by the director in his order has expired, except that the owner or occupant of such property or any part thereof on which a public eating place is conducted shall not be subject to the provisions of this subdivision, but shall be subject to the provisions of subdivision (3) of this subsection, and (B) such civil penalty may be collected in a civil proceeding by the director of health or any official of such town, city or borough authorized to institute civil actions and shall be payable to the treasurer of such city, town or borough; and (3) the owner or occupant of such property, or both, shall be subject to the provisions of sections 19a-36, 19a-220 and 19a-230.
(c) If the director institutes an action for injunctive relief seeking the abatement or remediation of a nuisance or the removal of filth, the maintenance of which is of so serious a nature as to constitute an immediate hazard to the health of persons other than the persons maintaining such nuisance or filth, he may, upon a verified complaint stating the facts which show such immediate hazard, apply for an ex parte injunction requiring the abatement or remediation of such nuisance or the removal of such filth and restraining and prohibiting the acts which caused such nuisance or filth to occur, and for a hearing on an order to show cause why such ex parte injunction should not be continued pending final determination on the merits of such action. If the court finds that an immediate hazard to the health of persons other than those persons maintaining such nuisance or source of filth exists, such ex parte injunction shall be issued, provided a hearing on its continuance pending final judgment is ordered held within seven days thereafter and provided further that any persons so enjoined may make a written request to the court or judge issuing such injunction for a hearing to vacate such injunction, in which event such hearing shall be held within three days after such request is filed.
(d) In each town, except in a town having a city or borough within its limits, the town director of health shall have and exercise all the power for preserving the public health and preventing the spread of diseases; and, in any town within which there exists a city or borough, the limits of which are not coterminous with the limits of such town, such town director of health shall exercise the powers and duties of his office only in such part of such town as is outside the limits of such city or borough, except that when such city or borough has not appointed a director of health, the town director of health shall, for the purposes of this section, exercise the powers and duties of his office throughout the town, including such city or borough, until such city or borough appoints a director of health.
(e) When such nuisance is abated or remediated or the source of filth is removed from private property, such abatement, remediation or removal shall be at the expense of the owner or, where applicable, the occupant of such property, or both, and damages and costs for such abatement, remediation or removal may be recovered against the owner or, where applicable, the occupant, or both, by the town, city or borough in a civil action as provided in subsection (b) of this section or in a separate civil action brought by the director of health or any official of such city, town or borough authorized to institute civil actions.
(f) If the order of a district department of health, formed pursuant to section 19a-241, causes the displacement of any occupant of a residential dwelling unit, the municipality in which such dwelling unit is located shall be responsible for any relocation assistance afforded to such occupant pursuant to chapter 135. The district department of health shall provide written notification to the occupant of the occupant's rights under chapter 135 at the time an order causing displacement is issued. The written notification shall include the name, address and telephone number of the person authorized by the municipality to process applications for relocation assistance afforded pursuant to chapter 135.
(1949 Rev., S. 3850; 1959, P.A. 445; P.A. 77-465; P.A. 87-521, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-2, S. 55; P.A. 08-137, S. 2; P.A. 09-144, S. 5.)
History: 1959 act added provision for director of health authorizing qualified person to act; P.A. 77-465 placed previous provisions in Subsecs. (a) and (d) and added new provisions in Subsecs. (b), (c) and (e) clarifying general provisions re maintaining nuisance or source of filth injurious to public health stated in Subsec. (a) and added exception in Subsec. (d) re town health director's jurisdiction in cities or boroughs lacking health directors of their own; Sec. 19-79 transferred to Sec. 19a-206 in 1983; P.A. 87-521 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for the delegation of duties to an authorized agent and a sanitarian and to make technical changes; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-2 amended Subsecs. (a) to (c) and (e) to add references to remediation, made technical changes in Subsecs. (b) and (e) and amended Subsec. (e) to subject owners or occupants of private property to liability for remediation, where applicable; P.A. 08-137 added Subsec. (f) re relocation assistance availability when district department of health order causes displacement of occupant of residential dwelling unit, effective June 5, 2008; P.A. 09-144 amended Subsec. (b) by allowing notice to be delivered to registrant in accordance with Sec. 7-148ii.
See Sec. 21a-62 re power of local health authority to order analyses of foods and medicines or other articles for human consumption.
See Sec. 26-192g re duties of local directors of health with regard to unauthorized taking of shellfish in contaminated or posted areas.
Annotations to former section 19-79:
Towns not liable for acts of health officers, acting in good faith, and doing no unnecessary damage; health officer is not liable for error of judgment when acting in good faith. 51 C. 93. No distinction between nuisances and filth as to power of health officer. Id., 98, 99. Filth and nuisances may be removed although not endangering health at time of removal. Id., 102. Duty to prevent spread of disease. 86 C. 677. A person cannot be charged with a crime under section until the time allowed in an order for compliance with its terms has expired. 148 C. 439. Cited. 170 C. 387; Id., 675.
First selectmen of towns have never possessed any authority concerning matters affecting the public health. 8 CS 431. History and purpose discussed; the nuisances referred to are confined to those injurious to public health. 24 CS 242.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 42 CA 631. Under 2005 revision, Subsec. (b) clearly and unambiguously authorizes local health directors to issue orders to landlords for public nuisance violations regardless of the landlords' involvement in the violations. 133 CA 710.
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Sec. 19a-207. (Formerly Sec. 19-80). Duties of local officials. Emergencies. Regulations. The local director of health or his authorized agent or the board of health shall enforce or assist in the enforcement of the Public Health Code and such regulations as may be adopted by the Commissioner of Public Health. Towns, cities and boroughs may retain the power to adopt, by ordinance, sanitary rules and regulations, but no such rule or regulation shall be inconsistent with the Public Health Code as adopted by said commissioner. In any emergency when the health of any locality is menaced or when any local board of health or director of health fails to comply with recommendations of the Department of Public Health, said department may enforce such regulations as may be required for the protection of the public health.
(1949 Rev., S. 3806; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 84; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 65, 136; P.A. 87-521, S. 3; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 replaced public health council with commissioner of health services; Sec. 19-80 transferred to Sec. 19a-207 in 1983; P.A. 87-521 provided for the appointment of an authorized agent to perform the duties of the local director of health and deleted reference to “quarantine” regulations re department's enforcement of regulations to protect the public health; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
See Sec. 19a-36 re Public Health Code.
Annotation to former section 19-80:
Cited. 166 C. 337.
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Sec. 19a-207a. Basic health program. Each district department of health and municipal health department shall ensure the provision of a basic health program that includes, but is not limited to, the following services for each community served by the district department of health and municipal health department: (1) Monitoring of health status to identify and solve community health problems; (2) investigating and diagnosing health problems and health hazards in the community; (3) informing, educating and empowering persons in the community concerning health issues; (4) mobilizing community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems for persons in the community; (5) developing policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts; (6) enforcing laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety; (7) connecting persons in the community to needed health care services when appropriate; (8) assuring a competent public health and personal care workforce; (9) evaluating effectiveness, accessibility and quality of personal and population-based health services; and (10) researching to find innovative solutions to health problems.
(P.A. 14-226, S. 3.)
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Sec. 19a-208. (Formerly Sec. 19-81). Health conferences. Town, city, borough and district directors of health shall attend conferences called by the Department of Public Health to consider matters relating to public health, and the necessary expenses incident to such attendance shall be paid by the town, city, borough or district represented by the director, provided said department shall not call more than two such conferences in any year.
(1949 Rev., S. 3851; P.A. 77-598, S. 4; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: P.A. 77-598 added references to districts and district directors of health; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-81 transferred to Sec. 19a-208 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
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Sec. 19a-209. (Formerly Sec. 19-83). Jurisdiction of local director of health over streams. The director of health of a town, city or borough contiguous to any stream or body of water which is not wholly within the limits of such town, city or borough shall, in the enforcement of the laws, rules and regulations relating to public health, have jurisdiction over such stream or body of water and the islands situated therein.
(1949 Rev., S. 3853.)
History: Sec. 19-83 transferred to Sec. 19a-209 in 1983.
Annotation to former section 19-83:
First selectmen of towns have never possessed any authority concerning matters affecting the public health. 8 CS 431.
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Sec. 19a-209a. Permit for wells on residential property near approved community water supply systems. Mitigation or abandonment of irrigation wells. The director of health of a town, city, or borough or of a district health department may issue a permit for the installation or replacement of a water supply well at residential premises on property whose boundary is located within two hundred feet of an approved community water supply system, measured along a street, alley or easement, where (1) the water from the water supply well is only used for irrigation or other outside use and is not used for human consumption, (2) a reduced pressure device is installed to protect against a cross connection with the public water supply, (3) no connection exists between the water supply well and the community water system, and (4) the use of the water supply well will not affect the purity or adequacy of the supply or service to the customers of the community water supply system. Any well installed pursuant to this subsection, except a well used for irrigation, shall be subject to water quality testing that demonstrates the supply meets the water quality standards established in section 19a-37 at the time of installation and at least every ten years thereafter or as requested by the local director of health. Upon a determination by the local director of health that an irrigation well creates an unacceptable risk of injury to the health or safety of persons using the water, to the general public, or to any public water supply, the local director of health may issue an order requiring the immediate implementation of mitigation measures, up to and including permanent abandonment of the well, in accordance with the provisions of the Connecticut Well Drilling Code adopted pursuant to section 25-128. In the event a cross connection with the public water system is found, the owner of the system may terminate service to the premises.
(P.A. 95-149, S. 1, 2; P.A. 02-102, S. 3; P.A. 07-244, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 95-149 effective June 28, 1995; P.A. 02-102 authorized the director of health of a town, city or borough or district health department to issue a permit for the replacement of certain water supply wells on residential premises, amended Subdiv. (1) to provide that the water from the well is used for irrigation or other outside use and not human consumption, provided a pressure device is installed, amended Subdiv. (2) to provide that the well replaces an existing well that was used at the premises for domestic purposes, amended Subdiv. (3) by deleting the Subdiv. (4) designator and adding proviso that no connection exists between the well and the community water system, and added a provision re water quality testing at time of installation and at least every 10 years or as requested by the local director of health; P.A. 07-244 made technical changes, designated provision re installation of reduced pressure devices as Subdiv. (2), deleted former Subdivs. (2) and (3), redesignated existing Subparas. (A) and (B) as Subdivs. (3) and (4), and added provisions re mitigation or abandonment of irrigation wells that create unacceptable risk of injury to health or safety.
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Sec. 19a-209b. Prohibited discontinuance of water service from private residential wells. No person who owns a private residential well that (1) currently supplies or previously supplied water to another household, and (2) provides or previously provided continuous water service to such household for a period of at least fifty years, may discontinue such water service in the absence of an alternative, available source of water for such household. Each household to whom the private residential well supplies water shall contribute equally to the costs associated with maintaining the well.
(P.A. 07-244, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 07-244 effective July 11, 2007.
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Sec. 19a-209c. Application for exception to separating distance requirements for repair or new construction of subsurface sewage disposal system. Notice requirements. Approval of application not an affirmative defense to claims relating to contamination. (a) Any person who applies to the Department of Public Health for an exception to the separating distance requirements for the repair or new construction of a subsurface sewage disposal system relative to a water supply well, shall notify all owners of properties with water supply wells affected by the exception request of such application by certified mail, return receipt requested. The notice shall include a copy of the application.
(b) A decision approving such an application shall not be an affirmative defense for the owner of the subsurface sewage disposal system to any claim of liability for damages relating to contamination caused by the proximity of a subsurface sewage disposal system to a water supply well.
(P.A. 07-244, S. 7; P.A. 08-184, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 07-244 effective July 11, 2007; P.A. 08-184 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting “an exception to the separating distance requirements for” in place of “authorization relating to” re applications to department, by replacing provision re waiver of proximity requirement with “relative to a water supply”, by changing notification requirements from “abutting” properties to properties “with water supply wells affected by the exception request”, and by deleting provision re department's decision constituting a final decision for purposes of Sec. 4-183, and amended Subsec. (b) by substituting “water supply” for “private residential”.
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Sec. 19a-209d. Permit for replacement public wells. Notwithstanding any provision of title 19a or 25, a director of health of a town, city or borough or of a district department of health appointed pursuant to section 19a-200 or 19a-242 may issue a permit for a replacement public well if the Department of Public Health has approved such replacement public well pursuant to subsection (b) of section 25-33. For purposes of this section, “replacement public well” means a public well that (1) replaces an existing public well, and (2) does not meet the sanitary radius and minimum setback requirements as specified in the regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.
(P.A. 19-117, S. 73; P.A. 21-121, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 21-121 amended S. 73 of P.A. 19-117, which was effective June 26, 2019 and special in nature and therefore not codified, by deleting “and not later than March 1, 2021,”, redefining “replacement public well” and making technical changes.
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Sec. 19a-210. (Formerly Sec. 19-84). Removal of refuse. Any board of health or borough or town director of health may, upon the written complaint of any person having an interest in any land, cause the removal of refuse and rubbish from such land and shall apportion the expenses of such removal among the co-owners; provided the cost of removal of any refuse and rubbish caused by the alteration or erection of any structure on such land shall be charged to the owner or owners causing such alteration or erection.
(1949 Rev., S. 3854.)
History: Sec. 19-84 transferred to Sec. 19a-210 in 1983.
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Sec. 19a-211. (Formerly Sec. 19-85). Toilets in public places. Any owner or person having the care, custody or control of any building, room or premises maintained for or used by the public, who allows any toilet in any such building, room or premises or connected therewith to be in an insanitary condition, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars for each offense. The director of health of each town, city or borough shall inspect each such toilet and cause the same to be maintained in a sanitary condition and shall make complaint of any failure to maintain any such toilet in such condition to a prosecuting officer having jurisdiction. The failure of any director of health to perform his duty under the provisions of this section shall be cause for his removal.
(1949 Rev., S. 3855.)
History: Sec. 19-85 transferred to Sec. 19a-211 in 1983.
See Sec. 19a-105 re requirements concerning public toilets.
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Sec. 19a-212. (Formerly Sec. 19-86). Nuisance arising from swampy lands. When there exist upon any premises swampy or wet places or depressions in which a foul and unhealthy condition, arising from natural causes, permanently exists, the director of health of the town or the health committee, director of health or board of health of any city or borough, in which such places or depressions exist, upon the written complaint of any person and upon finding that such places or depressions are a source of danger to the public health, may cause such places or depressions to be filled with suitable material or drained. When caused to be done in any town outside the limits of a city or borough, it shall be under the direction of the selectmen of such town, and the expenses incurred thereby shall be paid by the treasurer of the town upon the orders of the selectmen, and, when caused to be done within the limits of any city or borough, the expense thereof shall be borne by such city or borough, provided such director of health, health committee or board of health shall not cause to be expended in any year under the provisions of this section a sum in excess of three hundred dollars, unless expressly authorized by such town, city or borough to expend a greater amount. Any resident or taxpayer of such town, city or borough may appeal from such order of any director of health, health committee or board of health in the manner provided in section 19a-229. If the owner of such premises, or his agent in charge thereof, has been notified in writing by such director of health, health committee or board of health to cause such places to be filled in or drained and has failed to do so, the owner of such premises filled in or drained under the provisions of this section shall pay to the community performing such work the benefits accruing to him therefrom, to be determined in the same manner as benefits are assessed in the layout of streets and highways.
(1949 Rev., S. 3856; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 26.)
History: 1965 act corrected statutory reference from section 19-102; Sec. 19-86 transferred to Sec. 19a-212 in 1983.
Annotation to former section 19-86:
Cited. 170 C. 387.
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Sec. 19a-213. (Formerly Sec. 19-87). Mosquito-breeding places; treatment. When it has been brought to the attention of a director of health or board of health that rain water barrels, tin cans, bottles or other receptacles or pools near human habitations are breeding mosquitoes, such director of health or board of health shall investigate and cause any such breeding places to be abolished, screened or treated in such manner as to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. The director of health, or any inspector or agent employed by him, may enter any premises in the performance of his duties under this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 3857.)
History: Sec. 19-87 transferred to Sec. 19a-213 in 1983.
See Sec. 22a-45b re elimination of mosquito-breeding places.
See Sec. 22a-45c re maintenance of drained land.
Annotation to former section 19-87:
Cited. 170 C. 387.
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Sec. 19a-214. (Formerly Sec. 19-88a). Procedure for suspension of delivery by fuel oil and bottled gas retailers to rental residences. No person, firm, corporation or partnership supplying fuel oil or bottled gas for the purpose of heating to a residential building which such person, firm, corporation or partnership knows, or reasonably should know, is occupied by any person other than the owner or any other party legally liable to the supplier for such fuel oil or bottled gas shall fail to provide such fuel oil or bottled gas in quantities sufficient to maintain the interior of such building at sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit, unless such supplier notifies, at least three days or, in the situation where such supplier has a contract providing for automatic delivery, at least ten days prior to the time such building is reasonably expected to require an additional supply of fuel oil or bottled gas to continue to maintain the interior of the building at such temperature, the owner or any other party legally liable to the supplier for such fuel oil or bottled gas, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the chief health officer of the municipality, town, city or borough in which such building is located of his intention to discontinue such supply of fuel oil or bottled gas. Such notice shall include: (1) The address of the residential building affected; (2) the name and if known to the supplier of fuel oil or bottled gas, the address and telephone number of the person, firm, corporation, or partnership or its agent financially responsible for the supply of fuel oil or bottled gas; (3) the date on which the building is reasonably expected to require additional supplies of fuel oil or bottled gas to maintain the interior of the building at sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit; and (4) the reason for the refusal to provide fuel oil or bottled gas to the residential building. Such notice shall be given by telephone or in person during normal business hours of the municipality, town, city, or borough in which such building is located. The person, firm, corporation, or partnership supplying fuel oil or bottled gas shall maintain adequate records at its principal place of business of such notice including the date, time, and person to whom such notice is given. A copy of such record shall be mailed to the health officer, the owner or party legally liable to the supplier for such fuel oil or bottled gas and the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management on the same day as the notice is given. Within twenty-four hours after such notice is received from the fuel oil or bottled gas supplier, (A) the health officer shall contact the owner, agent, lessor, or manager of such building and advise him of his responsibilities pursuant to section 19a-109, and shall post notices in conspicuous places on the premises that service may be discontinued; and (B) the health officer, or an agent designated by the chief executive officer of the municipality, shall take reasonable steps to notify each tenant that he may have rights and remedies under sections 47a-13 and 47a-14a. A copy of such notice shall also be delivered to each dwelling unit within the premises. The name of the supplier shall not be mentioned in such notice. The supplier of fuel oil or bottled gas shall not be liable to such person, firm, corporation, or partnership financially responsible to such supplier for the supply of fuel oil or bottled gas or its agent for any damages whatsoever caused by the negligence of such supplier in making the notification required by the provisions of this section.
(P.A. 75-315; P.A. 77-2, S. 2, 4; Oct. Sp. Sess. P.A. 79-8, S. 1, 6.)
History: P.A. 77-2 lowered minimum temperature allowed in residential rentals where heat supplied by owner or other legally liable person from sixty-eight to sixty-five degrees; October, 1979, P.A. 79-8 required ten days' notice of intent to discontinue fuel supply service in cases involving contracts for automatic delivery, required notification of building owner or legally liable person and secretary of office of policy and management, as well as of municipality's chief health officer, and of tenants and required health officer or his agent to inform tenants of “rights and remedies” under law; Sec. 19-88a transferred to Sec. 19a-214 in 1983.
See Sec. 16a-22 re regulation of wholesale fuel oil dealers.
See Sec. 16a-22a re regulation of heating fuel dealers.
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Sec. 19a-215. (Formerly Sec. 19-89). Commissioner's lists of reportable diseases, emergency illnesses and health conditions and reportable laboratory findings. Reporting requirements. Confidentiality. Fines. (a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) “Clinical laboratory” has the same meaning as provided in section 19a-490.
(2) “Commissioner's list of reportable diseases, emergency illnesses and health conditions” and “commissioner's list of reportable laboratory findings” means the lists developed pursuant to section 19a-2a.
(3) “Confidential” means confidentiality of information pursuant to section 19a-25.
(4) “Health care provider” means a person who has direct or supervisory responsibility for the delivery of health care or medical services, including licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, physician assistants, nurses, dentists, medical examiners and administrators, superintendents and managers of health care facilities.
(5) “Reportable diseases, emergency illnesses and health conditions” means the diseases, illnesses, conditions or syndromes designated by the Commissioner of Public Health on the list required pursuant to section 19a-2a.
(b) A health care provider shall report each case occurring in such provider's practice, of any disease on the commissioner's list of reportable diseases, emergency illnesses and health conditions to the director of health of the town, city or borough in which such case resides and to the Department of Public Health, no later than twelve hours after such provider's recognition of the disease. Such reports shall be in writing, by telephone or in an electronic format approved by the commissioner.
(c) A clinical laboratory shall report each finding identified by such laboratory of any disease identified on the commissioner's list of reportable laboratory findings to the Department of Public Health not later than forty-eight hours after such laboratory's finding. A clinical laboratory that reports an average of more than thirty findings per month shall make such reports electronically in a format approved by the commissioner. Any clinical laboratory that reports an average of less than thirty findings per month shall submit such reports, in writing, by telephone or in an electronic format approved by the commissioner. The Department of Public Health shall provide a copy of all such reports to the director of health of the town, city or borough in which the affected person resides or, in the absence of such information, the town where the specimen originated.
(d) When a local director of health, the local director's authorized agent or the Department of Public Health receives a report of a disease or laboratory finding on the commissioner's lists of reportable diseases, emergency illnesses and health conditions and laboratory findings, the local director of health, the local director's authorized agent or the Department of Public Health may contact first the reporting health care provider and then the person with the reportable finding to obtain such information as may be necessary to lead to the effective control of further spread of such disease. In the case of reportable communicable diseases and laboratory findings, this information may include obtaining the identification of persons who may be the source or subsequent contacts of such infection.
(e) A hospital, as defined in section 19a-490 and licensed pursuant to chapter 368v, shall provide the Department of Public Health with access, including remote access, in a manner approved by the Commissioner of Public Health, to the entirety of each electronic medical record that concerns a reportable disease, emergency illness or health condition listed by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (9) of section 19a-2a that occurs at such hospital. Such remote access shall take place on or before October 1, 2022, if technically feasible.
(f) All personal information obtained from disease prevention and control investigations pursuant to this section including the health care provider's name and the identity of the reported case of disease and suspected source persons and contacts shall not be divulged to anyone and shall be held strictly confidential pursuant to section 19a-25, by the local director of health and the director's authorized agent and by the Department of Public Health.
(g) Any person who violates any reporting or confidentiality provision of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars. No provision of this section shall be deemed to supersede section 19a-584.
(1949 Rev., S. 3866; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-291, S. 2; 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-435, S. 59, 95; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 00-27, S. 18, 24; P.A. 08-184, S. 3; P.A. 11-242, S. 21; P.A. 21-121, S. 78; P.A. 22-58, S. 26.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-89 transferred to Sec. 19a-215 in 1983; P.A. 93-291 divided section into Subsecs., inserted new provisions as Subsec. (a) defining “commissioner's list of reportable diseases and laboratory findings”, “confidential” and “health care provider”, amended Subsec. (b) to remove list of diseases and make technical changes, added Subsec. (c) re procedures for department and local directors after receipt of reports, amended Subsec. (d) to conform confidentiality provisions and remove obsolete language and amended Subsec. (e) to raise fine from $25 to $500 and to specify that section does not supersede Sec. 19a-584; P.A. 93-381 and P.A. 93-435 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 00-27 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective May 1, 2000; P.A. 08-184 amended Subsec. (b) by providing that required reports may be in an electronic format approved by commissioner and by making technical changes; P.A. 11-242 amended Subsec. (a) by adding new Subdiv. (1) defining “clinical laboratory”, redesignating existing Subdivs. (1) to (3) as Subdivs. (2) to (4), substituting “commissioner's list of reportable diseases, emergency illnesses and health conditions” and “commissioner's list of reportable laboratory findings” for “commissioner's list of reportable diseases and laboratory findings” as defined terms in Subdiv. (2), and adding Subdiv. (5) defining “reportable diseases, emergency illnesses and health conditions”, amended Subsec. (b) by substituting “emergency illnesses and health conditions” for “laboratory findings” and substituting “section 19a-25” for “subsection (d) of this section”, added new Subsec. (c) re disease reporting requirements for clinical laboratory, redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) to (e) as Subsecs. (d) to (f), amended Subsec. (d) by adding “emergency illnesses and health conditions”, amended Subsec. (e) by substituting “subsections (c) and (d)” for “subsection (c)”, and made technical changes; P.A. 21-121 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) by deleting provisions re confidentiality of reports, added new Subsec. (e) re access for Department of Public Health to electronic medical records that concern reportable disease, emergency illness or health condition, redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (f) and amended same to replace “as performed in subsections (c) and (d) of” with “pursuant to” and redesignated existing Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (g); P.A. 22-58 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by redefining “clinical laboratory”.
See Sec. 19a-221 re quarantine procedure.
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Sec. 19a-216. (Formerly Sec. 19-89a). Examination or treatment of minor for sexually transmitted disease. Confidentiality. Liability for costs. (a) Any municipal health department, state institution or facility, licensed physician or public or private hospital or clinic, may examine or provide treatment for sexually transmitted disease for a minor, if the physician or facility is qualified to provide such examination or treatment. The consent of the parents or guardian of the minor shall not be a prerequisite to the examination or treatment. The physician in charge or other appropriate authority of the facility or the licensed physician concerned shall prescribe an appropriate course of treatment for the minor. The fact of consultation, examination or treatment of a minor under the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be divulged by the facility or physician, including the sending of a bill for the services to any person other than the minor, except for purposes of reports under section 19a-215, and except that, if the minor is not more than twelve years of age, the facility or physician shall report the name, age and address of that minor to the Commissioner of Children and Families or the commissioner's designee who shall proceed thereon as in reports under section 17a-101g.
(b) A minor shall be personally liable for all costs and expenses for services afforded such minor at his or her request under this section.
(1967, P.A. 206; 1969, P.A. 24; 1971, P.A. 858, S. 5; 1972, P.A. 257, S. 1; P.A. 73-205, S. 7; P.A. 74-251, S. 6; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 521, 610; P.A. 82-43, S. 2; P.A. 90-209, S. 23; P.A. 93-91, S. 1, 2; P.A. 96-246, S. 29; P.A. 11-242, S. 10; P.A. 18-168, S. 27.)
History: 1969 act allowed treatment for drug addiction or effects of controlled drug; 1971 act removed provision allowing treatments for drug addiction or effects of controlled drug; 1972 act included licensed physicians in provisions, allowed examination as well as treatment and added provisions re confidentiality of consultation, examination and treatment; P.A. 73-205 added exception to confidentiality provision where minor is not more than 12 years old; P.A. 74-251 allowed report of minor's name, age and address to welfare commissioner's designee in exception provision; P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of social services with commissioner of human resources, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 82-43 required that physician's report be made to children and youth services commissioner rather than to human resources commissioner and substituted “the” for “such” where appearing; Sec. 19-89a transferred to Sec. 19a-216 in 1983; P.A. 90-209 added new Subsec. (b) re minor's liability for costs and expenses, containing provisions formerly found in repealed Sec. 19a-385; P.A. 93-91 substituted commissioner and department of children and families for commissioner and department of children and youth services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 96-246 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing reference to Sec. 17a-101 with Sec. 17a-101g; P.A. 11-242 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting “examination or treatment” for “examination and treatment” and made technical changes; P.A. 18-168 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “venereal” with “sexually transmitted”.
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Sec. 19a-216a. Examination and treatment of persons at communicable disease control clinics. Confidentiality. (a) For the purposes of this section: (1) “Communicable disease control clinic” means a state or local health department funded clinic established for the purpose of providing readily accessible treatment of persons with possible sexually-transmitted diseases and their sexual contacts or persons with possible tuberculosis and their contacts. (2) “Epidemiologic information” means the names of possible human sources of infection or subsequent transmission from a person with a sexually-transmitted disease or tuberculosis.
(b) The personal medical records of persons examined or treated in a communicable disease control clinic shall be held strictly confidential by the local director of health and his authorized agents and shall not be released or made public or be subject to discovery proceedings, except release may be made of personal medical information, excluding epidemiologic information under the following circumstances:
(1) For statistical purposes in such form that no individual person can be identified;
(2) With the informed consent of all persons identified in the records;
(3) To health care providers in a medical emergency to the extent necessary to protect the health or life of the person who is the subject;
(4) To health care providers and public health officials in the states or localities authorized to receive such information by other state statute or regulation to the extent necessary to protect the public health or safety by permitting the continuation of service or public health efforts directed to disease prevention and control;
(5) To any agency authorized to receive reports of abuse or neglect of minors not more than twelve years of age pursuant to section 19a-216. If any information is required to be disclosed in a court proceeding involving abuse or neglect, the information shall be disclosed in camera and sealed by the court upon conclusion of the proceeding; or
(6) By court order as necessary to enforce any provision of the general statutes or state regulations or local ordinances pertaining to public health and safety provided the order explicitly finds each of the following: (A) The information sought is material, relevant and reasonably calculated to be admissible evidence during the legal proceeding; (B) the probative value of the evidence outweighs the individual's and the public's interest in maintaining its confidentiality; (C) the merits of the litigation cannot be fairly resolved without the disclosure; and (D) the evidence is necessary to avoid substantial injustice to the party seeking it and the disclosure will result in no significant harm to the person examined or treated. Before making such findings, the court may examine the information in camera. If the information meets the test of necessary evidence as listed in this subdivision, it shall be disclosed only in camera and shall be sealed by the court on conclusion of the proceeding.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no local health department official or employee shall be examined in any court proceeding, civil or criminal, or before any other tribunal, board, agency or person as to the existence or contents of pertinent records, reports or information of a person examined or treated for a sexually-transmitted disease by a state or local health department, or as to the existence or contents of such records, reports or information received by such department from a private physician or private health facility, without the written consent of the individual who is the subject of the records, reports or information.
(d) Information released under the provisions of this section shall not be rereleased unless the rerelease is made in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(e) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars. No provision of this section shall be deemed to supersede section 19a-584.
(P.A. 93-214.)
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Secs. 19a-217 and 19a-218. (Formerly Secs. 19-90 and 19-91). Prohibiting communication between towns. Notice of communicable disease in hotels and lodging houses. Sections 19a-217 and 19a-218 are repealed, effective July 1, 1997.
(1949 Rev., S. 3869, 3870; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 87, 88.)
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Sec. 19a-219. (Formerly Sec. 19-92). Prevention of blindness in newborn infants. (a) Any inflammation, swelling or unusual redness in the eyes of any infant, either apart from or with any unnatural discharge from the eyes of such infant, occurring at any time within two weeks after the birth of such infant, shall, for the purposes of this section, be designated as “inflammation of the eyes of the newborn”. The person in attendance at the birth of any infant shall instill into the eyes of such infant, immediately after birth, a prophylactic preparation approved by the Department of Public Health for the purpose of preventing inflammation of the eyes of newborns. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than fifty dollars.
(b) The prophylactic treatment required by subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any infant whose parents object to the treatment as being in conflict with their religious tenets and practice. Any person who objects to such treatment shall indemnify attending medical personnel for expenses incurred in connection with any civil action based on lack of such treatment. For purposes of this subsection, “expenses” includes, but is not limited to, judgments, settlements, attorneys' fees and court costs.
(1949 Rev., S. 3868; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 41.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-92 transferred to Sec. 19a-219 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), deleted eye-inflammation reporting requirement, reference to number of eye drops required and requirement that the department furnish solution and added new Subsec. (b) re religious exception.
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Sec. 19a-220. (Formerly Sec. 19-93). Enforcement of orders of health authorities. When any person refuses to obey a legal order given by a director of health, health committee or board of health, or endeavors to prevent it from being carried into effect, a judge of the Superior Court may issue his warrant to a proper officer or to an indifferent person, therein stating such order and requiring him to carry it into effect, and such officer or indifferent person shall execute the same.
(1949 Rev., S. 3871; March, 1958, P.A. 27, S. 49; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 60; P.A. 74-183, S. 224, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 193, 681.)
History: 1959 act substituted a judge of the circuit court for trial justice or municipal court judge, both of which were abolished; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court, effective July 1, 1978; Sec. 19-93 transferred to Sec. 19a-220 in 1983.
Annotation to former section 19-93:
Cited. 170 C. 675.
Annotation to present section:
Section authorizes a judge of the Superior Court to issue an administrative search warrant for suspected violations of local ordinances pertaining to the protection of public health when a property owner refuses to obey an order of inspection given by the health department. 322 C. 80.
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Sec. 19a-221. (Formerly Sec. 19-94). Order of quarantine or isolation of certain persons. Appeal of order. Hearing. (a) Any town, city, borough or district director of health may order any person isolated or quarantined whom such director has reasonable grounds to believe to be infected with a communicable disease or to be contaminated, if such director determines such person poses a substantial threat to the public health and isolation or quarantine is necessary to protect or preserve the public health, except that in the event the Governor declares a public health emergency, pursuant to section 19a-131a, each town, city, borough and district director of health shall comply with and carry out any order the Commissioner of Public Health issues in furtherance of the Governor's order pursuant to the declaration of the public health emergency.
(b) (1) The director shall adhere to the following conditions and principles when isolating or quarantining persons: (A) Isolation and quarantine shall be by the least restrictive means necessary to prevent the spread of a communicable disease or contamination to others and may include, but not be limited to, confinement to private homes or other private or public premises; (B) quarantined persons shall be confined separately from isolated persons; (C) the health status of isolated or quarantined persons shall be monitored frequently to determine if they continue to require isolation or quarantine; (D) if a quarantined person subsequently becomes infected or contaminated or is reasonably believed to have become infected with a communicable disease or contaminated, such person shall be promptly moved to isolation; (E) isolated or quarantined persons shall be immediately released when they are no longer infectious or capable of contaminating others or upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction; (F) the needs of persons isolated or quarantined shall be addressed in a systematic and competent fashion, including, but not limited to, providing adequate food, clothing, shelter, means of communication with those in isolation or quarantine and outside those settings, medication and competent medical care; (G) premises used for isolation and quarantine shall be maintained in a safe and hygienic manner and be designed to minimize the likelihood of further transmission of infection or other harms to individuals isolated or quarantined; (H) to the extent possible without jeopardizing the public health, family members and members of a household shall be kept together, and guardians shall stay with their minor wards; and (I) to the extent possible, cultural and religious beliefs shall be considered in addressing the needs of persons and establishing and maintaining premises used for quarantine and isolation.
(2) The order by the director shall be in writing setting forth: (A) The name of the person to be isolated or quarantined, (B) the basis for the director's belief that the person has a communicable disease or has been contaminated and poses a substantial threat to the public health and that isolation or quarantine is necessary to protect or preserve the public health, (C) the period of time during which the order shall remain effective, (D) the place of isolation or quarantine that may include, but need not be limited to, private homes or other private or public premises, as designated by the director, and (E) such other terms and conditions as may be necessary to protect and preserve the public health. Such order shall also inform the person isolated or quarantined that such person has the right to consult an attorney, the right to a hearing under this section, and that if such a hearing is requested, he has the right to be represented by counsel, and that counsel will be provided at the state's expense if he is unable to pay for such counsel. A copy of the order shall be given to such person. In determining the duration of the order, the director shall consider, to the extent known, the length of incubation of the communicable disease or contamination, the date of the person's exposure and the person's medical risk of exposing others to such communicable disease or contamination. Within twenty-four hours of the issuance of the order, the director of health shall notify the Commissioner of Public Health that such an order has been issued. The order shall be effective for not more than twenty days, provided further orders of confinement pursuant to this section may be issued as to any respondent for successive periods of not more than twenty days if issued before the last business day of the preceding period of isolation or quarantine.
(c) A person ordered isolated or quarantined under this section shall be isolated or quarantined in a place designated by the director of health until such time as such director determines such person no longer poses a substantial threat to the public health or is released by order of a Probate Court for the district in which such person is isolated or quarantined. Any person who desires treatment by prayer or spiritual means without the use of any drugs or material remedies, but through the use of the principles, tenets or teachings of any church incorporated under chapter 598, may be so treated during such person's isolation or quarantine in such place.
(d) A person isolated or quarantined under this section shall have the right to a hearing in Probate Court and, if such person or such person's representative requests a hearing in writing, such hearing shall be held not later than seventy-two hours after receipt of such request, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. A request for a hearing shall not stay the order of isolation or quarantine issued by the director of health under this section. The hearing shall be held to determine if (1) the person ordered isolated or quarantined is infected with a communicable disease or is contaminated, (2) the person poses a substantial threat to the public health, and (3) isolation or quarantine of the person is necessary and the least restrictive alternative to protect and preserve the public health. The commissioner shall have the right to be made a party to the proceedings.
(e) Jurisdiction shall be vested in the Probate Court for the district in which such person resides or is isolated or quarantined.
(f) Notice of the hearing shall be given the respondent and shall inform the respondent that his or her representative has a right to be present at the hearing; that the respondent has a right to counsel; that the respondent, if indigent or otherwise unable to pay for or obtain counsel, has a right to have counsel appointed to represent the respondent; and that the respondent has a right to cross-examine witnesses testifying at the hearing. If the court finds such respondent is indigent or otherwise unable to pay for counsel, the court shall appoint counsel for such respondent, unless such respondent refuses counsel and the court finds that the respondent understands the nature of his or her refusal. The court shall provide such respondent a reasonable opportunity to select his or her own counsel to be appointed by the court. If the respondent does not select counsel or if counsel selected by the respondent refuses to represent such respondent or is not available for such representation, the court shall appoint counsel for the respondent from a panel of attorneys admitted to practice in this state provided by the Probate Court Administrator. The reasonable compensation of appointed counsel shall be established by and paid from funds appropriated to, the Judicial Department, but, if funds have not been included in the budget of the Judicial Department for such purposes, such compensation shall be established by the Probate Court Administrator and paid from the Probate Court Administration Fund.
(g) Prior to such hearing, such respondent or respondent's counsel shall be afforded access to all records including, without limitation, hospital records if such respondent is hospitalized. If such respondent is hospitalized at the time of the hearing, the hospital shall make available at such hearing for use by the respondent or the respondent's counsel all records in its possession relating to the condition of the respondent. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent timely objection to the admissibility of evidence in accordance with the rules of civil procedure.
(h) At such hearing, the director of health who ordered the isolation or quarantine of the respondent shall have the burden of showing by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent is infected with a communicable disease or is contaminated and poses a substantial threat to the public health and that isolation or quarantine of the respondent is necessary and the least restrictive alternative to protect and preserve the public health.
(i) If the court, at such hearing, finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the respondent is infected with a communicable disease or is contaminated and poses a substantial threat to the public health and that isolation or quarantine of the respondent is necessary and the least restrictive alternative to protect and preserve the public health, it shall order (1) the continued isolation or quarantine of the respondent under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate until such time as it is determined that the respondent's release would not constitute a reasonable threat to the public health, or (2) the release of the respondent under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate to protect the public health.
(j) If the court, at such hearing, fails to find that the conditions required for an order for isolation or quarantine have been proven, it shall order the immediate release of the respondent.
(k) A respondent may, at any time, move the court to terminate or modify an order made under subsection (i) of this section, in which case a hearing shall be held in accordance with this section. The court shall annually, upon its own motion, hold a hearing to determine if the conditions which required the isolation or quarantine of the respondent still exist. If the court, at a hearing held upon motion of the respondent or its own motion, fails to find that the conditions which required isolation or quarantine still exist, it shall order the immediate release of the respondent. If the court finds that such conditions still exist but that a different remedy is appropriate under this section, the court shall modify its order accordingly.
(l) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Probate Court under this section may appeal to the Superior Court.
(1949 Rev., S. 3873; 1955, S. 2069d; P.A. 84-336, S. 1; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 03-236, S. 12; P.A. 15-217, S. 3, 4.)
History: Sec. 19-94 transferred to Sec. 19a-221 in 1983; P.A. 84-336 substantially revised section including adding definitions of “communicable disease” and “respondent” and adding provisions re the procedure for the confinement of a person by a director of health, hearing procedures by a three-judge probate court, procedural rights of a respondent, standards for the court to order the continued confinement or release of the respondent, the review and termination or modification of a confinement order and the right to appeal to the superior court; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 03-236 deleted former Subsec. (a) re definitions, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as new Subsec. (a) and amended said Subsec. by adding provisions re district health director, replacing provision re confinement with provisions re isolation or quarantine, replacing provisions re radiation hazard with provision re contamination and adding provision re public health emergency, added new Subsec. (b) re conditions for isolation or quarantine, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (b)(2) and amended said Subsec. by replacing provisions re confinement with provisions re isolation or quarantine, replacing provision re radioactive material with provision re contamination, adding provisions re private home as place of isolation or quarantine and basis for duration of order, changing from 15 to 20 days the maximum duration of order and making technical changes, redesignated existing Subsecs. (d) to (m) as Subsecs. (c) to (l), making conforming and technical changes therein, amended Subsec. (f) to provide counsel for indigent respondents, and amended Subsecs. (h) and (i) by changing standard of proof from clear and convincing evidence to a preponderance of the evidence, effective July 9, 2003; P.A. 15-217 amended Subsec. (c) by making a technical change and amended Subsec. (e) by deleting provisions re appointment of three-judge court to hear respondent's appeal and by making a technical change.
Annotations to former section 19-94:
Town liable for expense of quarantine. 76 C. 160. When order of quarantine may be lawfully made; violating it by permitting children to go at large. 86 C. 677.
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Sec. 19a-222. (Formerly Sec. 19-95). Vaccination. Directors of health and boards of health may adopt such measures for the general vaccination of the inhabitants of their respective towns, cities or boroughs as they deem reasonable and necessary in order to prevent the introduction or arrest the progress of smallpox, and the expenses in whole or in part of such general vaccination shall, upon their order, be paid out of the town, city or borough treasury, as the case may be. Any person who refuses to be vaccinated, or who prevents a person under his care and control from being vaccinated, on application being made by the director of health or board of health or by a physician employed by the director of health or board of health for that purpose, unless, in the opinion of another physician, it would not be prudent on account of sickness, shall be fined not more than five dollars.
(1949 Rev., S. 3874.)
History: Sec. 19-95 transferred to Sec. 19a-222 in 1983.
Annotations to former section 19-95:
Powers of health officer to prevent spread of smallpox. 42 C. 162. Health officers may adopt suitable measures of prevention, although no case of disease has appeared. 65 C. 189.
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Sec. 19a-223. (Formerly Sec. 19-96). Municipalities may contract for health services. (a) Any municipal departments of health, pursuant to municipal charter or ordinance, and health districts may contract among themselves for the joint use or benefit of the municipality for services, personnel, facilities, equipment or any other property or resources for matters affecting public health. Any officer or employee of a municipality furnishing such services under such an agreement shall have, in the municipality or district to which the services are furnished, the same authority, responsibilities and duties as to public health as the officer or employee has in the municipality or district employing him.
(b) When necessary to protect and preserve the public health and prevent the spread of disease and injury, any municipal department of health, pursuant to any municipal charter or ordinance and with the approval of the chief executive officer of the municipality, or any health district may request emergency assistance and the use of resources from any other municipal department of health or health district. Any officer or employee of a municipality or health district, while acting in response to such a request, shall have, in the municipality or district to which the services are furnished, the same powers, duties, privileges and immunities as are conferred on public health officers and employees of the municipality or district requesting assistance.
(1957, P.A. 257; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 42, 88.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-96 transferred to Sec. 19a-223 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and reworded said provisions, removing requirement of legislative body vote and added new Subsec. (b) re requests for assistance, effective July 1, 1997.
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Sec. 19a-224. (Formerly Sec. 19-97). Fish scrap and fertilizer. No fertilizer, fish scrap or similar offensive substance shall be loaded upon or unloaded from any vessel in New London Harbor between June first and October first, or at any other time without a written permit obtained from the director of health of the city of New London. No vessel wholly or partially loaded with fertilizer, fish scrap or similar offensive substance shall, unless stormbound, remain in New London Harbor longer than two days, between June first and October first. No fertilizer, fish scrap or similar offensive substance shall, at any time, be loaded or unloaded from any vessel in any of the Connecticut waters lying south of that portion of the Connecticut shore between New London lighthouse and Cornfield Point. The master of any vessel, at anchor or docked in New London Harbor or in the Connecticut waters defined in this section, which is wholly or partially loaded with fertilizer or fish scrap or similar offensive substance, shall, at all times between the hours of three o'clock in the morning and twelve o'clock midnight, keep the cargo of such vessel so enclosed or covered as to prevent the emission of any offensive odors. The owner, captain or master of any vessel, or any other person responsible for any violation of the provisions of this section, shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars for each violation; and each day's continuance or repetition of such violation shall constitute a separate offense. State's attorneys and assistant state's attorneys or deputy assistant state's attorneys of the Superior Court and all other informing officers in their respective jurisdictions shall ascertain and prosecute for violations of the provisions of this section. Prosecution for any such violation may be maintained before the superior court in any judicial district whose territorial limits adjoin the waters affected by the provisions hereof.
(1949 Rev., S. 3862; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 57; P.A. 74-183, S. 225, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 194, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 2, 127.)
History: 1961 act deleted obsolete references to prosecuting grand jurors, cities' attorneys and town, city, borough or police court, substituting circuit court; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas and “circuit” with “county or judicial district”; P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and “prosecuting attorneys” with “state's attorneys and assistant state's attorneys or deputy assistant state's attorneys”, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties; Sec. 19-97 transferred to Sec. 19a-224 in 1983.
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Sec. 19a-225. (Formerly Sec. 19-98). Manufacture and treatment of oil and garbage. Processing of fish for animal consumption in Stonington. No person or corporation shall, within the town of Waterford, East Lyme, Old Lyme or Stonington, or in any waters adjacent thereto, engage in the business of manufacturing from fish or garbage any oil, guano, fertilizer or phosphate, or in the business of rendering or treating garbage or other filthy or noxious matter, or in the town of Stonington, engage in the business of processing of fish for animal consumption. This section shall not apply to the continuance of any such business of any person or corporation whose plant within any of said towns had been erected prior to May 1, 1909, and was actively employed in the same specific business during the year 1908, while such business continued to be confined to the property owned by such person or corporation on said May 1, 1909, or to the treatment and disposal within any of said towns of garbage or other filthy or noxious matter originating within such town, or to the filleting and freezing of fish into food for human consumption within the town of Stonington.
(1949 Rev., S. 4146; September, 1950, S. 2129d; 1967, P.A. 330, S. 1.)
History: 1967 act modified provisions relating to Stonington; Sec. 19-98 transferred to Sec. 19a-225 in 1983.
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Sec. 19a-226. (Formerly Sec. 19-99). Unloading and transportation of fertilizers. Unless otherwise provided, city and borough directors of health shall have power to make orders and regulations controlling the time during which, and the manner in which, manure and other fertilizers may be unloaded from vessels or cars and transported upon the highways in their several jurisdictions.
(1949 Rev., S. 3861.)
History: Sec. 19-99 transferred to Sec. 19a-226 in 1983.
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Sec. 19a-227. (Formerly Sec. 19-101). Anchorage of houseboats. The director of health of any town, city or borough may designate limits within the navigable waters of the state, outside the channel and adjacent to any public or private bathing beach or bathing house, within which limits houseboats or other vessels used by the owners or possessors thereof as dwelling places shall not, while so used and occupied as dwelling places, be anchored or moored; and such town, city or borough director of health shall, upon the written application of five or more persons owning property adjoining any bathing beach or bathing house within such navigable waters, designate such limits. After limits have been designated as aforesaid, no person having immediate charge of any such houseboat or other vessel, while used and occupied as a dwelling place, shall anchor or moor the same or keep the same anchored or moored within the limits so designated.
(1949 Rev., S. 3864.)
History: Sec. 19-101 transferred to Sec. 19a-227 in 1983.
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Sec. 19a-228. (Formerly Sec. 19-102). Penalty for anchoring within designated limits. Any person having immediate charge of any such houseboat or other vessel, while so used as a dwelling place, who anchors or moors the same or keeps the same anchored or moored within the limits so designated after twenty-four hours have elapsed from the time that notice has been served as hereinafter provided and within a period of two months from the service of such notice, shall be guilty of a class D misdemeanor for each day during any part of which he keeps such houseboat or other vessel so anchored or moored within the limits so designated. Service of notice may be made by any officer or indifferent person by leaving with or reading to the person having immediate charge of any such houseboat or other vessel a copy of this section, together with a description in writing of the limits which have been so designated.
(1949 Rev., S. 3864; P.A. 12-80, S. 68.)
History: Sec. 19-102 transferred to Sec. 19a-228 in 1983; P.A. 12-80 replaced penalty of a fine of not more than $50 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days with a class D misdemeanor.
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Sec. 19a-229. (Formerly Sec. 19-103). Appeal. Any person aggrieved by an order issued by a town, city or borough director of health may appeal to the Commissioner of Public Health not later than three business days after the date of such person's receipt of such order, who shall thereupon immediately notify the authority from whose order the appeal was taken, and examine into the merits of such case, and may vacate, modify or affirm such order.
(1949 Rev., S. 3865; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 99-61; P.A. 03-252, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of health with commissioner of health services, effective January 1, 1979; Sec. 19-103 transferred to Sec. 19a-229 in 1983; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-61 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), changing “within” to “not later than”, and added new Subsec. (b) re appeal of orders under Sec. 19a-111c; P.A. 03-252 deleted Subdiv. (a) designator, changed deadline for appeal from 48 hours after the making of the order to three business days after receipt of the order, and deleted former Subsec. (b) re certain appeals having such three business day deadline.
Annotations to former section 19-103:
Cited. 174 C. 195.
Cited. 21 CS 347. Section does not apply to appeals under Sec. 7-153. 26 CS 266.
Annotation to present section:
Authority granted to commissioner to examine into merits of appeal of an order, and to vacate, modify or affirm such order would have enabled commissioner to provide plaintiff with appropriate relief; thus, trial court improperly failed to dismiss plaintiff's appeal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction for failure to exhaust available administrative remedies. 263 C. 558.
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Sec. 19a-230. (Formerly Sec. 19-104). Penalty. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or any legal order of a director of health or board of health, for which no other penalty is provided, shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
(1949 Rev., S. 3875; P.A. 12-80, S. 69.)
History: Sec. 19-104 transferred to Sec. 19a-230 in 1983; P.A. 12-80 replaced penalty of a fine of not more than $100 or imprisonment of not more than 3 months or both with a class C misdemeanor.
Annotation to former section 19-104:
Violation of quarantine order within section. 86 C. 678.
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Sec. 19a-231. Inspection of salons. Guidelines re inspection standards. Infection prevention and control plan guidelines. Fee. (a) As used in this section, “salon” includes any shop, store, day spa or other commercial establishment at which the practice of barbering, as described in section 20-234, hairdressing and cosmetology, as defined in section 20-250, or the services of a nail technician, an esthetician or an eyelash technician, as such terms are defined in section 20-265a, or any combination thereof, is offered and provided.
(b) Not later than October 1, 2019, the Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the local directors of health of the state, shall establish a standardized inspection form and guidelines concerning standards for the inspection of the sanitary condition of a salon. Such guidelines shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) The use of personal protective equipment, including, but not limited to, disposable gloves as a barrier against infectious materials; (2) the immediate disposal after use in a covered waste receptacle of all articles that came into direct contact with the customer's skin, nails or hair that cannot be effectively cleaned or sanitized; (3) the proper cleaning and sanitizing of bowls used for soaking fingers; (4) the use of hospital-grade cleaner to clean the area and materials used in the practice of hairdressing, cosmetology and by nail technicians, estheticians and eyelash technicians, including, but not limited to, chairs, armrests, tables, countertops, trays, seats and soaking tubs for both hands and feet; and (5) the required availability of handwashing sinks in an area where the hairdresser, cosmetologist or nail technician is working. The department shall post such standardized inspection form and guidelines on the department's Internet web site.
(c) The director of health for any town, city, borough or district department of health, or the director's authorized representative, shall, on an annual basis, inspect all salons within the director's jurisdiction regarding their sanitary condition and on and after the adoption of standards under subsection (b) of this section, such inspection shall be in accordance with such standards. The director of health, or the director's authorized representative, shall have full power to enter and inspect any such salon during usual business hours. If any salon, upon such inspection, is found to be in an unsanitary condition, the director of health shall issue a written order that such salon correct any inspection violations identified by the director of health or the director's authorized representative.
(d) Not later than October 1, 2019, the Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee, in collaboration with the local directors of health of the state, shall establish infection prevention and control plan guidelines for licensed nail technicians, eyelash technicians or estheticians, which shall be posted on the department's Internet web site.
(e) The director of health may collect from the operator of any such salon a reasonable fee, not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars, for the cost of conducting any annual inspection of such salon pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any municipal charter, home rule ordinance or special act, any fee collected by the director of health pursuant to this section shall be used by the town, city, borough or district department of health for conducting inspections pursuant to this section.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4, S. 44; P.A. 19-117, S. 196.)
History: P.A. 19-117 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “salon”, deleting Subdiv. (2) defining “nail technician”, and deleting Subdiv. (1) designator, added Subsec. (b) re standardized inspection form and guidelines, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and amended same by adding provision re inspection to be in accordance with standards adopted, replacing “make” with “issue a”, and replacing provision re order that salon be placed in sanitary condition with provision re order that salon correct inspection violations, added Subsec. (d) re establishment of infection prevention and control plan guidelines for nail technicians, eyelash technicians or estheticians, designated existing provisions re collection of fee and amended same to replace maximum fee of $100 with provision re maximum fee of $250, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2019.
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Sec. 19a-232. Tanning facilities. Use of tanning devices by minors prohibited. Fines and enforcement. (a) As used in this section:
(1) “Consumer” means any individual who (A) is provided access to a tanning facility in exchange for a fee or other compensation, or (B) in exchange for a fee or other compensation, is afforded use of a tanning device as a condition or benefit of membership or access;
(2) “Operator” means an individual designated by the tanning facility to control operation of the tanning facility and to instruct and assist the consumer in the proper operation of the tanning device;
(3) “Tanning device” means any equipment that emits radiation used for tanning of the skin, such as a sunlamp, tanning booth or tanning bed that emits ultraviolet radiation, and includes any accompanying equipment, such as timers or handrails; and
(4) “Tanning facility” means any place where a tanning device is used for a fee, membership dues or other compensation.
(b) An operator shall not allow any person under seventeen years of age to use a tanning device. Any operator who, knowing that a person is under seventeen years of age or under circumstances where such operator should know that a person is under seventeen years of age, allows such person to use a tanning device shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars. Such fine shall be payable to the municipal health department or health district for the municipality in which the tanning facility is located.
(c) Any municipal health department established under this chapter and any district department of health established under chapter 368f may, within its available resources, enforce the provisions of this section.
(P.A. 06-195, S. 22; P.A. 13-79, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 13-79 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision prohibiting operator from allowing person under age 17 to use tanning device, deleting provision re written parental or guardian consent for person under age 16 to use tanning device and making conforming changes.
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Secs. 19a-233 to 19a-239. Reserved for future use.
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