TITLE 31 HEALTH

Section 35. Vaccinations for Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, and Public Safety Officers, 31-35-1 through 31-35-11.

ARTICLE 2 BIOTERRORISM PROTECTION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS

31-35-10. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

1. "Bioterrorism" means the intentional use, to cause or attempt to cause death, disease, or other biological malfunction in any living organism, of any of the following:
   1. Microorganism;
   2. Virus;
   3. Infectious substance; or
   4. Biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology or any naturally occurring or bioengineered component of any microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product.
2. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of public health.
3. "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
4. "Disaster location" means any geographical location where a bioterrorism attack, terrorist attack, catastrophic event, natural disaster, or emergency occurs.
5. "Emergency responder" means any person employed as state or local law enforcement personnel, fire department personnel, corrections officers, or emergency medical personnel who may be deployed to a bioterrorism attack, terrorist attack, catastrophic event, natural disaster, or emergency.

(Code 1981, §31-35-10, enacted by Ga. L. 2003, p. 569, § 4; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, §§ 1-4, 1-6/HB 228; Ga. L. 2011, p. 705, §§ 6-3, 6-5/HB 214.)

The 2011 amendment, effective July 1, 2011, substituted "commissioner of public health" for "commissioner of community health" in paragraph (2) and substituted "Department of Public Health" for "Department of Community Health" in paragraph (3).