Public health emergency-definition amendments.

25LSO-0237
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0237
Introduced
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0128

Public health emergency-definition amendments.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Lucas, Angelos, Haroldson, Heiner, Johnson, McCann, Rodriguez-Williams, Smith, S, Styvar, Webb and Wharff and Senator(s) McKeown and Smith, D

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to public health and safety; requiring the governor to convene the legislature after declaring that a public health emergency exists as specified; authorizing the legislature to satisfy quorum requirements and vote in person or remotely by an electronic method; amending the definition of public health emergency as specified; making conforming amendments; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 35
‑
4
‑
116 is created to read:

35
‑
4
‑
116.

Declaration of a public health emergency.

The governor shall declare when a public health emergency exists or has ended. After the governor declares that a public health emergency exists, the governor shall by proclamation convene the legislature on the second day following the date of the declaration for purposes of concurring with or not concurring with the existence of a public health emergency. The legislature by joint resolution may concur that a public health emergency exists or shall have the authority to terminate the public health emergency. The legislature shall meet at the seat of government and may satisfy quorum requirements and vote in person or remotely by electronic video or audio conference method.

Section 2.

W.S. 1
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1
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141(a)(ii), 33
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25
‑
102(f)(vi), 33
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49
‑
107(c)(ii), 35
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4
‑
114(b) and (c) and 35
‑
4
‑
115(a)(i) are amended to read:

1
‑
1
‑
141.

COVID
‑
19 exposure and illness; assumption of the risk.

(a)

As used in this section:

(ii)

"COVID
‑
19" means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS
‑
CoV
‑
2) and any mutation or viral fragments thereof or any disease or condition caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS
‑
CoV
‑
2) that was the subject of the public health emergency declared by the governor
under W.S.

35
‑
4
‑
115(a)(i)
on March 13, 2020;

33
‑
25
‑
102.

Practice of physical therapy; license or certificate required; exceptions; false representations.

(f)

The following persons are exempt from the licensure and certification requirements of this act:

(vi)

A physical therapist licensed in another

jurisdiction who enters this state to provide physical therapy during a public health emergency as declared by the governor pursuant to W.S.
35
‑
4
‑
115(a)(i)
35
‑
4
‑
116
.

Any physical therapist practicing pursuant to this paragraph shall notify the board of the therapist's intent to practice and supply additional information as provided by rules of the board;

33
‑
49
‑
107.

Licensure required; components; exemptions; other licensed health care professionals.

(c)

The following persons are exempt from this chapter's licensure requirements:

(ii)

An acupuncturist licensed in another jurisdiction who enters this state to provide acupuncture during a natural disaster or a public health emergency, as declared by the governor pursuant to W.S.
35
‑
4
‑
115(a)(i)
35
‑
4
‑
116
;

35
‑
4
‑
114.

Immunity from liability.

(b)

The licensing boards for any health care provider holding a permit or license as a health care provider regulated under title 33 of the Wyoming statutes shall provide by rule and regulations for the temporary licensure of health care providers during a public health emergency as declared by the governor pursuant to W.S.
35
‑
4
‑
115(a)(i)
35
‑
4
‑
116
. If necessary during a declared public health emergency, the state health officer may issue temporary practice licenses to health care providers who are retired, who have an inactive license or who are licensed in another state without a valid Wyoming license pending action on an application for issuance of a temporary license by the appropriate licensing board pursuant to this subsection.

(c)

All temporary health care provider licenses issued by the state health officer under subsection (b) of this section shall terminate automatically upon declaration by the governor, pursuant to W.S.
35
‑
4
‑
115(a)(i)
35
‑
4
‑
116
, that the public health emergency has ended.

35
‑
4
‑
115.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this article:

(i)

"Public health emergency" means an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health condition caused by an epidemic or pandemic disease, a novel and highly fatal infectious agent or a biological toxin that poses a substantial risk of a significant number of human fatalities or incidents of permanent or long
‑
term disability
;
. The governor shall declare when a public health emergency exists or has ended;

Section 3.

This act shall apply to all declarations of public health emergencies occurring on and after July 1, 2025.

Section 4
.

This act is effective July 1, 2025
.

(END)

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HB0128