State & Local Legal Authority to Address Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

ChangeLab Solutions has created a resource to examine the legal authorities that can affect preparedness for and response to emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases (EZIDs) in state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) jurisdictions.

This resource explores these questions:

• How do state laws define or address animals, EZIDs, and the locations where EZID response may occur?
• Which agencies are tasked with EZID or animal control?
• What specific powers do these agencies have, and are they required by law or policy to coordinate and collaborate to address EZIDs?
• How is EZID data shared among relevant agencies and between different jurisdictions and levels of government?

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role that STLT health departments play in our national public health infrastructure. To effectively implement the One Health approach — which recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment — STLT sectors such as public health, animal health, and environment must have the authority to protect the public’s health through effective preparedness, response, prevention, and control activities for emerging and zoonotic infectious diseases.