26B-7-202. Authority to investigate and control epidemic infections and communicable disease.

481 words·~2 min read·/ut/title-26b/chapter-7/26b-7-202

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Effective 5/6/2026

(a)Subject to the restrictions in this title, the department has authority to investigate and control the causes of epidemic infections and communicable disease, and shall provide for the detection, reporting, prevention, and control of communicable diseases and epidemic infections or any other health hazard which may affect the public health, including drug overdose and drug overdose fatalities.

(b)Nothing in this section may be construed to modify or supersede a law enforcement agency's authority to investigate a crime.

(2)This part does not authorize the department to control the production, processing, distribution, or sale price of local food in response to a public health emergency, as that term is defined in Section 26B-7-301 .

(a)As part of the requirements of Subsection

(1), the department shall distribute to the public and to health care professionals:

(i)medically accurate information about sexually transmitted diseases that may cause infertility and sterility if left untreated, including descriptions of:

(A)the probable side effects resulting from an untreated sexually transmitted disease, including infertility and sterility;

(B)medically accepted treatment for sexually transmitted diseases;

(C)the medical risks commonly associated with the medical treatment of sexually transmitted diseases; and

(D)suggested screening by a private physician or physician assistant; and

(ii)information about:

(A)public services and agencies available to assist individuals with obtaining treatment for the sexually transmitted disease;

(B)medical assistance benefits that may be available to the individual with the sexually transmitted disease; and

(C)abstinence before marriage and fidelity after marriage being the surest prevention of sexually transmitted disease.

(b)The information described in Subsection (3)(a) :

(i)shall be distributed by the department and by local health departments free of charge; and

(ii)shall be relevant to the geographic location in which the information is distributed by:

(A)listing addresses and telephone numbers for public clinics and agencies providing services in the geographic area in which the information is distributed; and

(B)providing the information in English as well as other languages that may be appropriate for the geographic area.

(i)Except as provided in Subsection (3)(c)(ii) , the department shall develop written material that includes the information described in this Subsection

(3).

(ii)In addition to the written materials described in Subsection (3)(c)(i) , the department may distribute the information described in this Subsection

(3)by any other methods the department determines is appropriate to educate the public, excluding public schools, including websites, toll free telephone numbers, and the media.

(iii)If the information described in Subsection (3)(b)(ii)(A) is not included in the written pamphlet developed by the department, the written material shall include either a website, or a 24-hour toll free telephone number that the public may use to obtain that information.

Amended by Chapter 73 , 2026 General Session