Network Report Thursday, February 13, 2020 
The recent Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak emanating from Wuhan, China is spreading rapidly. Thousands of new cases are confirmed in China along with hundreds more in over a dozen countries, with 13 cases identified in the U.S. The following resources provide legal, policy and practical guidance related to international and domestic public health responses to COVID-19.
Primer: Emergency Legal Preparedness: Novel Coronavirus
Webinar Recording: 2019 Novel Coronavirus Legal Preparedness and Public Health
US Emergency Legal Responses to Novel Coronavirus: Balancing Public Health and Civil Liberties (JAMA Viewpoint co-authored by James G. Hodge Jr., J.D. LLM, director of the Network’s Western Region Office and Lawrence Gostin, J.D., Professor at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law)
Law and Policy Perspectives Marijuana Delivery: California’s Looming Legal Battle As more states legalize medical and recreational marijuana use, they are being confronted with a broad spectrum of policy issues. One of the emerging issues is whether to allow the legal cannabis industry to deliver marijuana directly to customers. Advocates see it as an issue of access, especially for medical marijuana patients. Opponents argue that delivery will make it easier for kids to get marijuana and that the delivery vehicles will be targeted by criminals. 
Food Allergies: A Call for Greater Precaution in the Food Service Industry As food allergies become more prevalent, there is increased risk of harm from serious and life-threatening reactions. However, this risk is frequently overlooked or disregarded by the food service industry. While federal law requires the packaged food industry to label any major allergens in their products, there is no mandate that restaurants do so. In response, several states have enacted legislation requiring food-service establishments to take additional food allergen precautions.
Resources Public Health Decision-Making Tool Health officials and boards of health have a duty to protect the public’s health. They have a great amount of discretion in how they fulfill this duty and must make difficult decisions around emerging threats that require balancing many factors. A proper exercise of discretion involves consideration of facts known at the time, weighing options, and using professional judgment. This tool provides a checklist of key questions for public health decision-makers and practitioners to consider in making a decision whether to act or to wait based on information known at the time.
Webinars The Public Charge Rule and the Threat to Public Health February 20 | 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. EST Under the Department of Homeland Security’s Public Charge Rule, U.S. immigrants who receive non-cash “public benefits,” including most forms of Medicaid, can be denied a green card because they are deemed to be a “public charge.” With the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent order allowing the Final Rule to go into effect while legal challenges make their way through the lower courts, many poor and low-income individuals will now face increased scrutiny when applying for a green card. Attend this webinar to learn about the legal aspects of the Public Charge Rule and its impact on public health. Facilitated Discussion on the Public Charge Rule for MLPs If you participate in a medical-legal partnership and are interested in discussing the Public Charge Rule and its implications for your patients/clients, please join the Network for a facilitated discussion with your MLP colleagues. Network for Public Health Law attorney April Shaw, as well as Randye Retkin, Director, and Sarah Nolan, Supervising Attorney, with LegalHealth will join the call to assist with answering questions. Please RSVP by emailing Colleen Healy Boufides at chealyboufides@networkforphl.org no later than Friday, February 28 and attend the The Public Charge Rule and the Threat to Public Health webinar in advance or review the recording when it’s available 2-3 business days after the webinar.
Announcements: Network Seeks Diversity and Equity Consultant The Network seeks an experienced diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant to conduct an organizational assessment that provides a better understanding of current policies, culture, and practices with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The ultimate objective of this work is to nurture an environment that is welcoming to a diverse staff. The deadline for submitting proposals is March 13, 2020 by 5:00 pm central standard time. Applications for MLP Safe & Healthy Housing Cohort Due February 21 Applications for MLP Safe & Healthy Housing Cohort Due February 21 Are you and your MLP colleagues frustrated by repeatedly encountering the same obstacles to healthy housing? Apply to join a 6-month cohort of MLPs seeking to improve the safety and quality of housing in their communities through upstream efforts, ranging from informing implementation and enforcement strategies, to spearheading impact litigation, to contributing in large and small ways to legal changes. Worth Sharing: CityHealth to Support Small and Mid-Size Cities Are you a local leader in a small or mid-size city interested in learning more about putting stronger policies in place to improve the health of your city’s residents? CityHealth partners with the nation’s largest 40 cities, and is eager to support small and mid-sized cities in using policy to create healthier and more vibrant communities. The initiative is currently recruiting for a pilot project exploring how it can expand to mid-sized and smaller cities, defined as a jurisdiction with a population of less than 275,000. CityHealth will select a small group of cities to participate in the initial pilot, and will provide training materials and technical assistance to guide participants as they do their own assessment of their policies. Job Opportunity: Staff Attorney: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, (the Campaign) is a leader in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its devastating consequences in the United States and around the world. It is the principal policy advocacy organization devoted primarily to countering the lethal influence of the tobacco industry on public policy. Based in Washington D.C., the Campaign seeks a Staff Attorney to engage in cutting-edge legal and policy advocacy, and related litigation.
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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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