HB 1471 Summary

• Repeals and replaces sections 199.170-199.270 of Missouri law with fourteen new sections (199.170-199.350) relating to tuberculosis testing, treatment, and commitment procedures.

• Establishes new definitions including "directly observed therapy" (DOT), "immediate threat," "latent tuberculosis infection," and "targeted testing program," and changes references from "local board" to "local public health authority."

• Creates criminal penalties making it a class D felony for persons with active pulmonary or laryngeal TB to knowingly expose others without consent or work while contagious without adhering to treatment; elevates to class C felony if victim contracts TB.

• Requires all college and university students to undergo tuberculin skin testing or interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) testing upon matriculation through a targeted testing program, with non-compliance resulting in loss of enrollment in the subsequent semester.

• Mandates health care facility employees and volunteers receive TB screening upon employment per CDC guidelines, and grants the department of health and senior services authority to investigate TB cases, enter properties with court orders, and contract for patient care with third-party payer benefits exhausted first.