A state Senate bill would create a department to handle disease outbreaks such as a flu pandemic and deal with bioterrorist threats. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced for a new state Department of Public Health in California.
The governor is embracing legislation by Sen. Deborah Ortiz to establish a California office. It will focus on concerns such as outbreaks of disease and food poisoning as well as overseeing care of 100,000 people living in nursing homes.
The state earmarks about $2 billion for local public health programs. The governor’s announcement, made at a conference in San Francisco, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake.