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Limitations of the Law
•The law is very fact-specific
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•The law is constantly evolving
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•The law is often catching up…
–…with advances in scientific knowledge
–…with changes in society
–…with unanticipated events and circumstances
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•The law requires interpretation
Speaking Points

One very current illustration that the law is constantly evolving and catching up is the CDC’s Public Health Law Program, which includes an initiative to offer states resources for modernizing their public health laws, some of which are the oldest in the country….for example, a Model State Emergency Health Powers Act was drafted to provide a sort of template for states to apply to their current statutes to identify gaps and areas that may need change. Some states have used this approach.