Public Health Law News Announcements April 2, 2015

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Thursday, April 2, 2015 Public Health Law Program Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Public Health Law News Announcements

Local Immigration Laws and their Impact on Hispanic/Latino Health. Increasingly, the implementation of two federal initiatives—section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Secure Communities program—have delegated federal immigration enforcement policies to state and local jurisdictions. Some evidence suggests that both initiatives contribute to Hispanic/Latino immigrants’ general mistrust of local law enforcement, as well as to fear of using some public services and accessing healthcare services. This webinar, hosted by the Network for Public Health Law, will take place Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 1:00 pm (EDT), and will introduce new research investigating the impact these laws may have on access to care and how the barriers could impact health.

The Changemaker’s Guide. The Changemaker’s Guide is ChangeLab Solutions’ new interactive curriculum to help residents and advocates envision and create healthy neighborhoods. This guide can help trainers build community groups’ capacity to effect change, influence policy, and engage with the planning processes that shape neighborhoods, cities, and regions. The workshop activities, icebreakers, and accompanying materials are available in both Spanish and English.

New LawAtlas Map: Air Quality Laws Pertaining to Oil and Gas Development. Air quality degradation is a concern in areas where directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) has increased. This map examines laws pertaining to air quality for operations and equipment on the fracking well pad site. It includes statutes and regulations from Colorado, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

New LawAtlas Map: Long-Term Involuntary Commitment Laws. Long-term involuntary commitment laws allow psychiatric facilities to accept a patient for an extended amount of time, without the patient’s consent, if the patient displays dangerous symptoms of mental illness. This map depicts varying state laws on the duration of commitment, the rights that must be provided to a committed patient, and the subsequent limitations, if any, on a patient’s right to possess a firearm under state gun laws.

About Public Health Law News

Public Health Law News is published by the CDC Public Health Law Program in the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support. It is released on the third Thursday of each month except holidays, plus special issues when warranted. It is distributed in electronic form and is free of charge.