Network Report Thursday, December 5, 2019 
The Network's Legal Assistance Library provides answers to commonly asked questions on a variety of public health topics. Use this searchable, online database to get information on laws, regulations and policies related to drug harm prevention, health information and data sharing, medical marijuana, food safety, health care reform, vaccination requirements, and numerous other issues. Explore the Legal Assistance Library.
Law and Policy Perspectives Protecting Women's Reproductive Rights In 2019, several states passed strict laws limiting access to abortion. Some state laws specifically aim to overturn the seminal case, Roe v. Wade. Proposed legislation modeled after the Voting Rights Act seeks to require states with a history of restricting access to abortion to preclear any new abortion law with the Department of Justice before such law or practice can take effect. 
Navigating Law to Share Environmental Health Data The medium through which an environmental exposure occurs (e.g., water, air, soil) is often geographically based and/or clustered. For this reason, responding to an environmental health threat in a meaningful and timely way requires real-time, granular data and prompt local action. The broad range of potentially relevant environmental health data sources highlights one of the key legal challenges with obtaining and using local data: often each type of data (hazard, exposure and health outcome) is governed by a different law and may be collected by a different entity.
Resources Summary of State Laws that Facilitate Data Sharing Among State Agencies Sharing data across government agencies assists in addressing social determinants of health, environmental needs and risk factors; in better aligning services that support individuals; and in enhanced public health surveillance. This summary provides several examples of state laws that facilitate data sharing among state agencies.
Webinars Harm Reduction Policy and Practice December 11 | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. EST Although government agencies, nonprofit organizations, clinicians, and advocates have made great strides in reducing harm from substance use, they are often hindered by laws and policies that reflect an outdated, punitive-focused approach to drugs and individuals who use them. Attend this webinar to learn about jail diversion and access to treatment, legal aid, naloxone distribution, and other critical programs and policies to help people with substance use disorder. Continuing legal education credits will be offered with this webinar. 
Data Governance: Ensuring Trust and Managing Risks January 14 | 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. EST
When health care providers, public health and others create, use and share data, governance is required to ensure that trust is maintained and interoperability risks are appropriately managed. This webinar will highlight how governance is achieved by providing coordination and oversight through a policy framework, a decision-making body and trust agreement, and will include real world examples of governance in action.
2020 Public Health Law Conference The 2020 Public Health Law Conference will provide critical information, best practices, tools and resources to those on the front lines of public health. Help bring resource-strapped practitioners, lawyers, community advocates and students to the Conference. Your tax-deductible contribution will help pay for travel and housing costs, registration and other expenses.
Worth Sharing Over the Counter Naloxone Needed to Save Lives in the United States The United States continues to face a public health emergency of opioid-related harm, the effects of which could be dramatically reduced through increased access to the opioid antagonist naloxone. Unfortunately, naloxone is too often unavailable when and where it is most needed, partly due to its continued status as a prescription medication. This article in Preventive Medicine co-authored by Corey Davis, Director of the Network’s Harm Reduction Legal Project, makes the case for over-the-counter naloxone access.
James G. Hodge, Jr., Director, Western Region Office
Areas of expertise: › Emergency Legal Preparedness & Response
Thank you! Your interest in the work of the Network is important. Together, we can advance law as a tool to improve public health. Please forward the Network Report and encourage others to join the Network! The Network for Public Health Law provides information and technical assistance on issues related to public health. The legal information and assistance provided in this document does not constitute legal advice or legal representation. For legal advice, readers should consult a lawyer in their state.
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