65-129b. Infections or contagious diseases; authority of local health officer or secretary; evaluation or treatment orders, isolation or quarantine orders; enforcement.

65-129b

Chapter 65.--PUBLIC HEALTH
Article 1.--SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT, ACTIVITIES

      65-129b.   Infections or contagious diseases;authority of local health officer or secretary; evaluation or treatment orders,isolation or quarantine orders; enforcement.(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of K.S.A. 65-119, 65-122,65-123, 65-126 and 65-128, and amendments thereto, and any rules or regulationsadopted thereunder, in investigating actual or potential exposures to aninfectious or contagious disease that is potentially life-threatening, thelocal health officer or the secretary:

      (1) (A)   May issue an order requiring an individual who the local healthofficer or the secretary has reason to believe has been exposed to aninfectious or contagious disease to seek appropriate and necessary evaluationand treatment;

      (B)   when the local health officer or the secretary determines that it ismedically necessary and reasonable to prevent or reduce the spread of thedisease or outbreak believed to have been caused by the exposure to aninfectious or contagious disease, may order an individual or group ofindividuals to go to and remain in places of isolation or quarantine until thelocal health officer or the secretary determines that the individual no longerposes a substantial risk of transmitting the disease or condition to thepublic;

      (C)   if a competent individual of 18 years of age or older or an emancipatedminor refuses vaccination, medical examination, treatment or testing under thissection,may require the individual to go to and remain in a place of isolation orquarantine until the local health officer or the secretary determines that theindividual no longer poses a substantial risk of transmitting the disease orcondition to the public; and

      (D)   if, on behalf of a minor child or ward, a parent or guardian refusesvaccination, medical examination, treatment or testing under this section, mayrequire the minor child or ward to go to and remain in a place of isolation orquarantine and must allow the parent or guardian to accompany the minor childor ward until the local health officer or the secretary determines that theminor child or ward no longer poses a substantial risk of transmitting thedisease or condition to the public; and

      (2)   may order any sheriff, deputy sheriff or other law enforcement officer ofthe state or any subdivision to assist in the execution or enforcement of anyorder issued under this section.

      History:   L. 2005, ch. 122, § 2; Apr. 21.