SB0291 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 06089 BDA 16122 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB0291

Introduced 1/24/2025, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the One Health Framework Task Force Act. Establishes the One Health Framework Task Force in the Department of Public Health for the purpose of developing a strategic plan to promote interdisciplinary communication and collaboration between physicians, veterinarians, and other scientific professionals and State agencies, with the goal of promoting the health and well-being of the State's residents, animals, and environment. Declares goals and responsibilities of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall partner with or consult with certain entities in the State. Lists the members of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall convene and meet at the call of the chairperson. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall provide support to the Task Force. Provides that members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a final report to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before January 1, 2027. Defines terms.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the One Health Framework Task Force Act.

Section 5. Findings and purpose. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) The term "One Health" reflects the interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and the environment.

(2) The strong connections and interdependency between humans, companion animals, livestock, wildlife, and ecosystem health are recognized in the One Health initiative framework, which facilitates addressing zoonotic diseases, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and other complex, multi-disciplinary issues.

(3) Existing One Health initiatives at the federal level were included in both the 2021 Report of the Appropriations Committee of the United States House of Representatives and the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Congress directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Interior, and other federal agency partners:

(A) to create a National One Health framework to address zoonotic diseases and advance public health preparedness in the United States; and

(B) to collaborate with interagency partners on the development of a One Health coordination mechanism at the federal level to strengthen One Health collaboration related to the prevention of, detection of, control of, and response to zoonotic diseases and related One Health work across the federal government.

(4) Existing One Health initiatives in other states include the passage of Senate Bill 347 and Assembly Bill 1992 in New Jersey in June 2021 for the purpose of developing a New Jersey One Health Task Force.

(5) Awareness and collaboration among disciplines will help protect the environment and the health of all species, will save lives in present and future generations, and will increase the quality of life, the physical and mental health, and the productivity of residents of the State.

(6) A One Health approach recognizes that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and the environment, and it has been described as a collaborative, multisector, and transdisciplinary approach, working at the local, regional, national, and global levels, with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes while recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.

(7) A One Health approach is important because 6 out of 10 infectious diseases in humans are spread from animals; animals can also serve as early warning signs or sentinels of potential illnesses or other health concerns in people; and public health preparedness depends on agriculture in a variety of ways.

(8) It is, therefore, in the public interest for the State to establish a One Health Framework Task Force to promote the health and wellness of Illinois' natural resource, residents, and animals, including pets, livestock, and wildlife, by encouraging the collaborative efforts of experts and leveraging knowledge and resources effectively.

Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"One Health" means an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems while recognizing that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent.

"Task Force" means the One Health Framework Task Force established under this Act.

Section 15. One Health Framework Task Force.

(a) The One Health Framework Task Force is established in the Department of Public Health. The purpose of this Task Force shall be to develop a strategic plan to promote interdisciplinary communication and collaboration between physicians, veterinarians, and other scientific professionals and State agencies, with the goal of promoting the health and well-being of the State's residents, animals, and environment.

(b) The goals and responsibilities of the Task Force shall include:

(1) development of a mechanism to promote interdisciplinary communication and collaboration between human, animal, and environmental health professionals;

(2) development of protocols for the response to, and recovery from, zoonotic disease outbreaks in animals and humans;

(3) coordination and collaboration among appropriate entities to develop novel approaches to reduce hazards to human and animal health and to address public health threats in a timely manner that prevents duplication; and

(4) development of educational and outreach initiatives to promote the One Health approach across State government agencies, the State's academic and research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and private entities.

(c) The Task Force shall partner with academic institutions and nongovernmental organizations in the State and consult with associations, organizations, and individuals who are knowledgeable about the One Health initiative.

(d) The Task Force shall be composed of the following members:

(1) the Director of Public Health or the Director's designee, who shall serve as chairperson;

(2) the Director of Agriculture or the Director's designee;

(3) the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency or the Director's designee;

(4) the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security or the Director's designee;

(5) the Chairman of the Illinois Housing Development Authority or the Chairman's designee;

(6) the Director of Natural Resources or the Director's designee;

(7) the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary's designee;

(8) the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or the Director's designee;

(9) four members who are experts regarding One Health from the academic or teaching community in this State, appointed by the Governor;

(10) two members who are experts regarding One Health and who are physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in this State, appointed by the Governor; and

(11) two members who are experts regarding One Health and who are veterinarians licensed in this State, appointed by the Governor.

(e) The Task Force shall convene and meet at the call of the chairperson and shall meet as frequently as necessary to carry out its duties as required by this Act.

(f) The Department of Public Health shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force.

(g) The members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose.

(h) The Task Force shall submit a final report to the General Assembly and the Governor on or before January 1, 2027. This report shall outline the development of the One Health Framework contemplated in the findings and purpose of this Act and subsection (a) of this Section, shall provide details regarding the goals and responsibilities of the Task Force in subsection (b) of this Section, and shall include any other recommendations for legislative or regulatory action to improve, promote, and protect the health and well-being of the State's residents, animals, and environment.

(i) The final report under subsection (h) shall be posted on the public websites of the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Public Health.