Iowa Code § 135.140 (2026)
Definitions
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. “Bioterrorism” means the intentional use of any microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology, or any naturally occurring or bioengineered component of any such microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product, to cause death, disease, or other biological malfunction in a human, an animal, a plant, or another living organism.
2. “Department” means the department of health and human services.
3. “Director” means the director of health and human services or the director’s designee.
4. “Disaster” means disaster as defined in section 29C.2.
5. “Public health disaster” means a state of disaster emergency proclaimed by the governor in consultation with the department pursuant to section 29C.6 for a disaster which specifically involves an imminent threat of an illness or health condition that meets any of the following conditions of paragraphs “a” and “b”:
a. Is reasonably believed to be caused by any of the following:
(1) Bioterrorism or other act of terrorism.
(2) The appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin.
(3) A chemical attack or accidental release.
(4) An intentional or accidental release of radioactive material.
(5) A nuclear or radiological attack or accident.
(6) A natural occurrence or incident, including but not limited to fire, flood, storm, drought, earthquake, tornado, or windstorm.
(7) A man-made occurrence or incident, including but not limited to an attack, spill, or explosion.
b. Poses a high probability of any of the following:
(1) A large number of deaths in the affected population.
(2) A large number of serious or long-term disabilities in the affected population.
(3) Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a significant risk of substantial future harm to a large number of the affected population.
(4) Short-term or long-term physical or behavioral health consequences to a large number of the affected population.
6. “Public health response team” means a team of professionals, including licensed health care providers, nonmedical professionals skilled and trained in disaster or emergency \n Tue Dec 09 22:27:42 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 135 (177, 22) 51 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES — PUBLIC HEALTH, §135.142\n\nresponse, and public health practitioners, which is sponsored by a hospital or other entity and approved by the department to provide disaster assistance in the event of a disaster or threatened disaster. 2003 Acts, ch 33, §1, 11; 2003 Acts, ch 179, §64; 2005 Acts, ch 89, §6, 7; 2006 Acts, ch 1184, §83; 2009 Acts, ch 37, §4, 5; 2019 Acts, ch 24, §104; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §152 Referred to in §29C.6, 135M.1, 135M.3, 135M.4, 137.116, 139A.2 \n