Environmental Health and Local Health Departments:

A Legal Overview

Justin D. Pfeiffer, Esq.NYSDOH, Bureau of House Counsel

October 8, 2013

 

Disclaimer

The contents of this presentation should not be construed to represent any government agency determination or policy. These materials are for instructional use only and are not intended as a substitute for professional legal advice.

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Outline• Legal authority to enact public

health laws

• Legal duties of local health departments

• Enforcement powers of local health departments

• Administrative Hearings & Judicial Review

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Defining Public Health Law“Public Health Law is the study of the legal powers and duties of the state to assure the conditions for the people to be healthy … and the limitations on the power of the state to constrain the autonomy, privacy, liberty, proprietary, or other legally protected interests of individuals for the protection or promotion of community health.”

- Prof. Lawrence O. Gostin, Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint

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Three broad legal concepts

• Power What the government can do

• Duties What the government must do

• Limitations What the government cannot do

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Federal Authority to Regulate Public Health

• Powers of Congress Tax and spend Regulate commerce between states Regulate international commerce Near interstate and intl. borders, travel

hubs Regulate immigration Make treaties

• U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 8

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State Authority to Regulate Public Health, under U.S. Constitution• The States’ “Police Power”

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

U.S. Constitution, 10th Amendment

• States use this power to do many things to protect the common good, including regulating public health

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State Statutes and Regulations• New York State Constitution gives the

NY Legislature power to enact statutes on many subjects, including public health Statutes are often broadly written

• Statutes pertaining to public health often empower the Department of Health to issue regulations Regulations are usually much more detailed Note the DOH is in the Executive Branch So DOH’s authority to regulate is limited to

what the Legislature says it can do

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Examples of NYS ExercisingPolice Power in Public Health• Require reporting of

communicable disease cases and outbreaks

• Set standards for sanitation in: Drinking water Restaurants Children’s camps Public pools, beaches, and spray grounds Fairgrounds, concerts, and events

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Examples of NYS ExercisingPolice Power in Public Health• License hospitals and nursing homes• License healthcare professionals• Require children to be vaccinated to

enter public school• Control toxic threats to public health• Regulate the practice of funeral

directing• Control low-level radioactive

materials and radiation producing equipment

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Local Authority

• Article 3 of the Public Health Law (PHL) establishes the powers and duties of local health organizations PHL §§ 300-329 apply, in general PHL § 340 et seq. apply to those counties

that have formed county health districts PHL §§ 356 and 357 apply to those which

have not formed county health districts

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Local Authority

• The NYS Legislature has also empowered county governments to adopt charters Municipal Home Rule Law § 30 et seq.

• A county charter can modify and rearrange the administration of public health, but cannot reduce the county’s public health obligations

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Local Authority

The NY Legislature has enacted statutes empowering:•County governments to enact health related ordinances

Municipal Home Rule Law § 10

•County boards of health to issue county sanitary codes that are at least as protective as the State Sanitary Code

Public Health Law §§ 228 and 308

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Limitations: U.S. Constitutional Principles & Individual Rights• Due Process

No person may be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law

• Equal Protection All persons must be treated equally

• Federal and State Governments must follow these principles, according to: U.S. Constitution, 5th Amendment (Federal) U.S. Constitution, 14th Amendment (States)

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Due Process Principles for Balancing Public Health and Individual Rights• Necessity

A law that takes away liberty must be in response to a public health threat

• Reasonableness Law must be reasonably related to the

threat

• Harm Avoidance Law must minimize harm

• Proportionality Law must be in proper proportion to the

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Outline• Legal authority to enact public health

laws

• Legal duties of local health departments

• Enforcement powers of local health departments

• Administrative Hearings & Judicial Review

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State DOH role with respect to Local Health Departments• The State Department of Health

is required to supervise the work of local health organizations Public Health Law § 201

• State officials actively assist in enforcing public health laws in partial service counties

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Environmental Health Duties of Local Health Departments• LHDs are required to enforce the State

Sanitary Code and, if one exists, the local sanitary code Public Health Law §§ 308, 324 and 1308

• LHDs are also required to enforce or apply other environmental health laws, including but not limited to: Tanning (if authorized) - 10 NYCRR Part 72 Realty subdivision approvals - 10 NYCRR Part 74 Individual water and sewage regulations - 10

NYCRR Part 75 Tobacco – Clean Indoor Air Act and ATUPA

• Public Health Law Articles 13-E and 13-F

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Environmental Health Duties of Local Health Departments• LHDs must investigate and

ensure abatement of public health nuisances Public Health Law §§ 308 and 1303

• Body art regulations Stay tuned!

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State Aid Requirements

• The Department of Health issues regulations establishing the eligibility requirements for State Aid, some of which relate to environmental health 10 NYCRR Part 40

• Guidance documents

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What is a “public nuisance”?• A public nuisance is anything that

causes an actual or imminent danger to the public’s health. Examples: Allowing propagation of pests Improper disposal of garbage or toxic waste Air, soil, and water pollution Unsanitary conditions in tenant buildings

• A nuisance is “public” if it affects a “considerable number of persons” 532 Madison Ave. Gourmet Foods, Inc. v.

Finlandia Ctr., Inc., 96 N.Y.2d 280 (2001)

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What is a “private nuisance”?• The Court of “private nuisance” is

like a public nuisance, but it affects the health of “one person or relatively few” Copart Industries, Inc. v. Consolidated Edison

Co., 41 N.Y.2d 564 (1977)

• Government does not have jurisdiction to address private nuisances Citizens must retain private counsel

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Outline• Legal authority to enact public health

laws

• Legal duties of local health departments

• Enforcement powers of local health departments

• Administrative Hearings & Judicial Review

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Investigative Reporting is Crucial• The quality of the investigation

can make or break a case

• A good case file is: Truthful Accurate Concise Organized

• Acronym: TACO!

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Purpose of Inspections and Investigations

• Verify that a party is complying with the law

• If not, gather evidence to support an enforcement action and ensure a positive outcome for the LHD

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Subpoenas

• LHDs can issue subpoenas for witness testimony and documents Public Health Law § 309

• Subpoenas must comply with Civil Practice Laws and Rules (CPLR) Work with your attorney to ensure

compliance

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Authority to Investigate and Inspect • Authorized NYS DOH investigators can

inspect public and private property for violation of public health law or public nuisances Public Health Law §§ 206 and 1300 Warrant generally required

• County health officers can inspect public and private property for violation of public health law or public nuisances Public Health Law §§ 324, 1304 and 1305 Warrant generally required

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Warrants and U.S. Constitution, 4th Amendment• “The right of the people to be secure in

their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated”

• To ensure inspections are “reasonable” a warrant is generally required Camara v. Municipal Court (387 U.S. 523)

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When a Warrant is Not RequiredConsult your attorney before inspecting private property

without a warrant!

•Party consents

•Immediate threat to public health or safety

•When inspecting public property But not persons on public property

•Private property, where the public is invited: E.g., restaurants, pools

•For “closely regulated businesses”, under specific conditions

New York v. Burger (482 U.S. 691)

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Public Nuisance Abatement

• Revoke, limit, or suspend a permit

• Issue civil fines, a.k.a. “penalties”, up to $2,000 per violation PHL § 309(1)(f) In 2011, increased from $1000 Check whether your county sanitary code

has been updated

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Public Nuisance Abatement• LHDs can issue orders directing a party

to stop an activity or clean up a site Public Health Law § 1303

• If the party fails to comply, health officers can enter the property to abate the nuisance Public Health Law § 1305 A warrant is generally required

• The party is liable for the LHD’s expenses in cleaning up the nuisance Public Health Law § 1306

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Restraining Orders and Warrants• In situations where immediate

action is required, LHDs can apply to a court for a temporary restraining order (TRO) Public Health Law § 1308

• Arrest warrants can be issued to peace officers if necessary Public Health Law § 309 Talk to your counsel and police force first!

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Criminal Penalties• In general, violating the order of a local

board of health or local health officer is class A criminal misdemeanor Up to 1 year imprisonment Public Health Law § 12-b; Penal Law §§ 55.10 and 70.15

• However, violations of the State Sanitary Code are criminal “violations”, not misdemeanors Criminal penalty of $250 for first offense, $500 per

“second or subsequent” offense Up to 15 days in prison Public Health Law § 229; Penal Law § 70.15

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Outline• Legal authority to enact public health

laws

• Legal duties of local health departments

• Enforcement powers of local health departments

• Administrative Hearings & Judicial Review

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Due Process - Notice

• If a hearing is required, the LHD must inform the person of the time and place within a reasonable time frame

• Work with your attorney to ensure valid service of process

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Due Process - Specific Charges

• The notice of the hearing must specifically state: the law or regulations violated the factual basis for the violation the basis for the agency’s

jurisdiction for holding a hearing

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Due Process – Other Req’s

• Open to Public (usually)• Right to an attorney• Right to an interpreter, if

necessary• Right to review evidence• Right to call witnesses• Right to cross-examine

adverse witnesses37

Due Process – Other Req’s• Record of the Hearing (written or audio)

• Hearing officer’s decision must be based solely on the evidence presented

• Hearing officer’s decision must state the specific reasons for making the determination

• Hearing officer must base the decision on the whole record•Can determine that evidence is not persuasive, but cannot ignore evidence

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Due Process – Impartial Hearing Officer• LHD’s Board of Health has authority to

appoint an administrative hearing officer PHL § 309(1)(g)

• No conflict of interest

• Unbiased Cannot have been part of the investigation or the

prosecution, or otherwise have personal knowledge of the facts

Must not have any reason to pre-judge the parties or the case

Must not demonstrate any prejudice for or against the parties 39

“Ex Parte” Contacts Prohibited• Neither the LHD, nor the responding

party, may unilaterally discuss the case with the hearing officer

• Any communication with the hearing officer must include both parties by: Teleconference, or Courtesy copies of letters

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Burden of Proof• At a hearing, it is the LHD’s

responsibility to prove its case Other party is “innocent until proven guilty”

• When determining facts, the hearing officer should decide which side has a “preponderance” of the evidence In other words, 51% or more This is a lower threshold than “clear and

convincing” or “beyond a reasonable doubt”

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Judicial Review – Article 78 In court, a judge will determine if:•The hearing officer’s factual determinations were supported by “substantial evidence”

Something less than a “preponderance” or 51% Gives deference to the factual findings of the

hearing officer

•Hearing officer correctly interpreted the law Different from evidentiary review

•Respondent was treated impartially•LHD did not act “arbitrarily” or “capriciously”

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Judicial Enforcement• If a respondent fails to comply with

a hearing officer’s determination, the LHD can apply for a court order to enforce the determination

• Obtaining a court order takes time and resources, but if a party violates a court order, the court can hold a respondent in “contempt” Higher fines Possible imprisonment

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Thank You!

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