The general assembly hereby declares that it is in the interest of the public's health and well-being to continue to provide quality poison control services to the people of this state and that the provision of such services is a matter of statewide concern. It is the intent of the general assembly in enacting this article that such services be made available throughout the state on a consistent and prompt basis, by means of a toll-free telephone network, in order that illness or death that may result from the exposure of an individual to poisonous substances may be avoided. The general assembly finds that the provision of such poison control services may be accomplished on a more cost-efficient basis, at a savings to the taxpayer, if the duty of providing such services is placed with the department of public health and environment with authority to contract with a competitively priced service provider for the entire state.
Source: L. 2002: Entire article added, p. 423, § 1, effective July 1.