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[COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR] ORDINANCE NO. 230940
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Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas
Amending Chapter 34, Health and Sanitation, Code of Ordinance, by deleting Chapter 34-53, entitled "Report of certain diseases and events required," and replacing it with a new Chapter 34-53 of same title, for the purpose of adding fatal and nonfatal overdoses to the list of mandatory reporting events; directing the City Manager to evaluate additional funding for two dedicated Health Department overdose investigators; establishing an overdose review board; and establishing an effective date of January 1, 2024.
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WHEREAS, opioid overdoses doubled in Kansas City between 2017 and 2021, rising from 46 in 2017 to 102 in 2021; and
WHEREAS, fentanyl deaths have increased by 938 percent between 2017 and 2021, rising from 7 in 2017 to 72 in 2021; and
WHEREAS, fentanyl accounted for 40 percent of all overdose deaths in Kansas City in 2021, constituting 72 out of 182 overdose fatalities; and
WHEREAS, accurate and efficient reporting of fatal and nonfatal overdoses will assist prevention and intervention services; and
WHEREAS, the City endeavors to reduce overdose deaths by accurate reporting; improved staffing; and better collaboration among stakeholders; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That Section 34-53, Code of Ordinance, entitled "Report of certain diseases and events required," is hereby amended by deleting it and adding a new subsection 34-53, for the purpose of adding fatal and nonfatal overdoses to the list of mandatory reporting events, said section to read as follows:
Sec. 34-53. - Report of certain diseases and events required.
(a) Immediate reporting.
(1) Upon suspicion of, or laboratory or clinical confirmation, the following diseases must be immediately (within one hour) reported to the director, including all subse...
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