UH Law Center's Health Law & Policy Institute organizes COVID-19 legal resources toolkit

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Mar 26, 2020, 13:15 ET

HOUSTON, March 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Health Law & Policy Institute has launched a COVID-19 Pandemic Legal Resources for Texas page on the University of Houston Law Center website.

The Health Law & Policy Institute is working closely with the judiciary and the Office of Court Administration to advise on Chapter 81 of the Texas Health & Safety Code, which covers the role of Texas courts during public health emergencies. Updates and new content can be found at www.law.uh.edu/healthlaw/covid-19/.

The initiative was arranged by Research Assistant Professor Leah Fowler.

"We are in challenging times, and each state is working hard to flatten the curve," Fowler said. "In Texas, key control measures are found in Chapter 81 of the Texas Health & Safety Code. We are proud to develop resources that help practitioners navigate what is likely an unfamiliar statute."

The page houses several resources developed for judges and attorneys handling court-ordered management of persons with communicable diseases, including memoranda, training videos, and forms. Importantly, the website also includes the 2020 edition of "Control Measures and Public Health Emergencies: A Texas Bench Book."

Other features include links to important emergency orders from the Supreme Court of Texas and Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, as well as important declarations from Gov. Greg Abbott and Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, Dr. John Hellerstedt.

The website also includes resources for all Texans. For example, on Feb. 19, 2020, Law Foundation Professor of Law Seth Chandler led a Coronavirus Webinar, which provided an early look at information known at the time, employment law consideration, and the perspectives of medical and public health professionals. The Health Law & Policy Institute hopes to expand this content in the future.

Media contacts: Carrie Criado, UH Law Center Assistant Dean of Communications and Marketing, [email protected]; Elena Hawthorne, Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing, [email protected]; John T. Kling, Communications Manager, [email protected]; and John Brannen, Media Relations Rep, [email protected].

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city and one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the country, UH is a federally designated Hispanic- and Asian-American-Serving institution with enrollment of more than 46,000 students.

About the University of Houston Law Center

The University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) is a dynamic, top tier law school located in the nation's 4th largest city. UHLC's Health Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Part-time programs rank in the U.S. News Top 10. It awards Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees, through its academic branch, the College of Law. The Law Center is more than just a law school. It is a powerful hub of intellectual activity with more than 11 centers and institutes which fuel its educational mission and national reputation. UHLC is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

About the Health Law & Policy Institute

The Health Law & Policy Institute (HLPI) at the University of Houston Law Center is home to one of the nation's leading health law programs. It has been consistently ranked as a top 10 program by the U.S. News and World Report for more than two decades. HLPI has been at the forefront of legal education, scholarship, and policy analysis for over 40 years. Formed in 1978, HLPI has built a diverse portfolio of research on a variety of topics, including health finance systems; disability law; health information exchange; genetic data; health care quality and access improvement; integrated provider organizations; and questions of individual rights in health care and biomedical research.

SOURCE University of Houston Law Center