2013 North Dakota Century Code Title 23 Health and Safety Chapter 23-07.4 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Health Procedures
Download as PDF
CHAPTER 23-07.4
HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS INFECTION HEALTH PROCEDURES
23-07.4-01. Public health procedures for persons with human immunodeficiency virus
infection.
Subject to this chapter, the state health officer or a designee of the state health officer may
examine or cause to be examined a person reasonably believed to be infected with or to have
been exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus.
1. Orders or restrictive measures directed to a person with human immunodeficiency
virus infection must be used as the last resort when other measures to protect the
public health have failed, including all reasonable efforts, which must be documented,
to obtain the voluntary cooperation of the person who may be subject to the order or
measure. The orders and measures must be applied serially with the least intrusive
measures used first. The burden of proof is on the state health officer or a designee of
the state health officer to show that specified grounds exist for the issuance of the
orders or restrictive measures and that the terms and conditions imposed are no more
restrictive than necessary to protect the public health.
2. When the state health officer or a designee of the state health officer knows or has
reason to believe, because of medical or epidemiological information, that a person
within that official's jurisdiction has human immunodeficiency virus infection and is a
danger to the public health, that official may issue an order, according to the following
priority, to:
a. Require the person to be examined and tested to determine whether the person
has human immunodeficiency virus infection;
b. Require a person with human immunodeficiency virus infection to report to a
qualified physician or health worker for counseling on the disease and for
information on how to avoid infecting others; or
c. Direct a person with human immunodeficiency virus infection to cease and desist
from specified conduct that endangers the health of others, but only if that official
has determined that clear and convincing evidence exists to believe that the
person has been ordered to report for counseling as provided in subdivision b
and continues to demonstrate behavior that endangers the health of others.
3. If a person violates an order issued under subdivision c of subsection 2 and it is shown
that the person is a danger to others, the state health officer or a designee of the state
health officer may enforce the order by imposing such restrictions upon the person as
are necessary to prevent the specific conduct that endangers the health of others.
Restrictions must be in writing, setting forth the name of the person to be restricted
and the initial period of time, not to exceed ninety days, during which the order
remains effective, the terms of the restrictions, and any other conditions as may be
necessary to protect the public health. Restrictions must be imposed in the least
restrictive manner necessary to protect the public health.
4. Upon issuance of any order under subsection 2 or 3, the state health officer or a
designee of the state health officer shall promptly, personally, and confidentially notify
the person who is the subject of the order, stating the grounds and provisions of the
order and the right to contest the order, the right to be present at a judicial hearing in
the district court serving the county in which the person resides to review the order,
and the right to be represented by counsel during the hearing. If the person who is the
subject of the order refuses to comply with the order and refuses to cooperate
voluntarily with the state health officer or a designee of the state health officer, the
state health officer or designee may petition the district court serving the county in
which the person resides for an order of compliance. The state health officer or
designee shall request the state's attorney in the county in which the person resides to
file the petition in the district court. If an order of compliance is requested, the court
shall hear the matter within ten days after the request. Notice of the place, date, and
time of the court hearing must be made by personal service or, if the person is not
available, must be mailed to the person who is the subject of the order by certified mail
Page No. 1
5.
at the person's last-known address. Proof of mailing by the state health officer or
designee is sufficient notice under this section. The burden of proof is on the state
health officer or designee to show by clear and convincing evidence that the specified
grounds exist for the issuance of the order and for the need for compliance and that
the terms and conditions imposed in the order are no more restrictive than necessary
to protect the public health. Upon conclusion of the hearing, the court shall issue
appropriate orders affirming, modifying, or dismissing the order. If the court dismisses
the order, the fact that the order was issued must be expunged from the records of the
state department of health. If the court affirms or modifies the order and the person
subject to the order is infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, the court shall
require the person to disclose the names and addresses, if known, of persons with
whom the person has had contact that poses an epidemiologically demonstrated risk
of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus. Failure to comply with
court-ordered disclosure constitutes contempt of court.
A person who is the subject of an order authorized under this section is entitled to
representation by legal counsel during any hearing to review the issuance of the order.
23-07.4-02. Emergency public health procedures.
1. When the procedures under section 23-07.4-01 have been exhausted or cannot be
satisfied and the state health officer or designee knows or has reason to believe,
because of medical or epidemiological information, that a person within that official's
jurisdiction has human immunodeficiency virus infection and that the person continues
to engage in behavior that presents an imminent danger to the public health, the state
health officer or designee may bring an action in the district court serving the county in
which the person resides to enjoin the person from engaging in or continuing to
engage in such behavior. The state health officer or designee shall request the state's
attorney to file the action in district court.
2. In addition to issuance of an injunction order requested under subsection 1, the court
may issue other appropriate orders including an order to take the person into custody,
for a period not to exceed ninety days and place the person in a facility designated or
approved by the state health officer. A custody order issued for the purpose of
counseling and testing to determine whether the person has human immunodeficiency
virus infection must provide for the immediate release from custody and from the
facility for any person whose confirmed test results are negative and may provide for
counseling or other appropriate measures to be imposed on any person whose
confirmed test results are positive. The person who is the subject of the order must be
given prompt, personal, and confidential notice of the order stating the grounds and
provisions of the order and notifying the person of the right to contest the order, the
right to be present at a judicial hearing in the district court serving the county in which
the person resides to review the order, and the right to be represented by counsel
during the hearing. If the person contests testing or treatment, no invasive medical
procedures may be carried out before a hearing is held under subsection 3.
3. Any order issued by the district court under subsection 2 is subject to review in a court
hearing. Prompt, personal, and confidential notice of the place, date, and time of the
court hearing and of the person's right to be present at the hearing and the right to
representation by counsel during the hearing must be given to the person who is the
subject of the court order. The hearing must be conducted by the court within
forty-eight hours after the order is issued. The burden of proof is on the state health
officer or designee to show by clear and convincing evidence that grounds exist for the
order issued by the court under subsection 2 and that the terms and conditions
imposed in the order are no more restrictive than necessary to protect the public
health. Upon conclusion of the hearing, the court shall issue appropriate orders
affirming, modifying, or dismissing the order. If the court dismisses the order, the fact
that the order was issued must be expunged from the records of the state department
of health. If the court affirms or modifies the order and the person subject to the order
is infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, the court shall require the person
Page No. 2
4.
to disclose the names and addresses, if known, of persons with whom the person
subject to the order has had contact that poses an epidemiologically demonstrated risk
of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus. Failure to comply with
court-ordered disclosure constitutes contempt of court.
A person who is the subject of an order authorized under this section is entitled to
representation by legal counsel during any hearing to review the issuance of the order.
23-07.4-03. Closed hearing - Confidentiality of information.
A hearing conducted under this chapter must be closed and any report, transcript, record, or
other information relating to actions taken under this chapter is confidential.
Page No. 3
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. North Dakota may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
