HJ0103eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0103 Engrossed LRB095 16352 KBJ 42376 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 103

WHEREAS, The U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) have identified Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MROs) as a national threat to public health. These include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus areus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant (VRE), and certain gram-negative bacilli (GNB) which are microorganisms, predominantly bacteria, that are resistant to one or more classes of antimicrobial agents. These highly resistant organisms deserve special attention because options for treatment are often extremely limited. The 95th General Assembly enacted House Bill 192 (PA 95-282) and Senate Bill 233 (PA 95-312) that established MRSA prevention and control programs for licensed hospitals and mental health and developmental disabilities facilities operated by the Department of Human Services, and required the Department of Public Health to publicize guidelines for reducing the incidence of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs), including MRSA, to health care providers, health care facilities, public health departments, prisons, jails, and the general public; and to provide periodic reports and updates to public officials, health professionals, and the general public statewide regarding new developments or procedures concerning prevention and management of infections due to MDROs. Additional control and prevention measures are under consideration and may be required to ensure public safety; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative to protect the health and safety of the public by educating the citizens of this State about the dangers of MDROs; therefore be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created in the Department of Public Health the Joint Task Force on MDRO Education, which shall be charged with the task of spearheading the effort to educate parents, students, teachers, and school administrators about the dangers of MDROs and ways to prevent the spread of diseases related to these organisms; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Joint Task Force shall consist of 9 members, all of whom shall be appointed by the Director of Public Health; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Director shall choose one member representing each of the following groups: nurses, specialists in the field of infection control and epidemiology, education organizations, school principals, health care consumers, the Illinois Department of Public Health, hospitals, doctors, and public health associations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Director of Public Health.