Vol.22 No.26 - Emergency Responders - Implementing ADA Expected To Cost Law Enforcement Millions In Litigation Fees

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by McQueen

Emergency response and public safety agencies are warned about two distinct legal and health issues: CDC guidance urges full intramuscular hepatitis B vaccine doses rather than cost-cutting one-tenth intradermal dosing for emergency responders, with supporting publication details. The document further explains the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) implementation timeline and enforcement differences between Title I and Title II. It also describes how efforts by police organizations to obtain employment-standard exemptions failed, emphasizing compliance starting January 26, 1992.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

CDC Warns Criminal Justice, Fire Agencies Not To Cut Hepatitis B Vaccine Dose

One-Tenth Dosages Might Save Money, But Produce Poor Response

Implementing ADA Expected To Cost Law Enforcement Millions in Litigation Fees

EEOC Attorney Explains Fine Points of New Law at IACP Conference

Law Enforcement's Exemption Denied

Vol.22 No.26 Emergency Responders. ## CDC WARNS CRIMINAL JUSTICE,FIRE AGENCIES NOT TO CUTHEPATITIS B VACCINE DOSE One-Tenth Dosages Might SaveMoney,But Produce Poor Response Editor's Note:U.S.Fire Administrator Olin L.Greene has written to all fire/rescue serviceagencies warning them to give full intramuscular(IM)vaccine dosages for hepatitis B.Some agen-cies,in an attempt to save money,are givingemergency responders one-tenth dosages by theintradermal (ID)route. Greene's letter,which should be shared withall law enforcement and corrections agencies,follows. Also reprinted below is the Aug.23,1991,issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,published by the Federal Centers for DiseaseControl (CDC),which discusses the hepatitis Bproblem in more detail. Open Letter to All Emergency Response Agencies: The U.S.Department of Health and HumanServices/Centers for Disease Control (CDC)hasreleased a report that may be of interest to emer-gency response agencies. The CDC report cites that several organizations have attempted to decrease the cost ofemployee hepatitis B vaccination by administering1/10 the recommended intramuscular(IM)vaccinedose by the intradermal(ID)route.Since Novem- ISSN 0010-9045 December 25,1991 N THIS ISSUE- HEPATITIS B:Give Officers Full Doses Of Vaccine,CDC Warns……………………1ADA:What The Police Are Hearing Applies To Corrections,To.…………………1R.I.:Officer Sentenced For Beating inmate…………5DRUG TESTING:Boston Police Policy Struck Down……………………………5TEXAS:Stress Seminar Coming Up………………6JOB LISTINGS………………………………… …7ACLU:Do Corrections Workers Have First Amendment Rights?…………………10PITTSBURGH SCI:Phones Fixed To Foil Inmates……10 Part 1... ## IMPLEMENTING ADA EXPECTEDTO COST LAW ENFORCEMENTMILLIONS IN LITIGATION FEES EEOC Attorney Explains Fine PointsOf New Law At IACP Conference By Dr.Betty B.BosargeManaging Editor,Washington Crime News Services "I expect that,conservatively,lawenforcement will expend hundreds of thousands ofdollars in the next seven to 10 years litigating thisissue,"Lt.Col.Richard A.Curtis,deputysuperintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol,predicted at a Dec.10 meeting of police executiveshosted by the International Association of Chiefs ofPolice(IACP)in Arlington,Va. See ADA,page two) (ADA,from page one) "Having grown up in Ohio and havinglearned at an early age never to disagree with amember of the Ohio State Patrol,I must take therisk of disagreeing with Col.Curtis,"counteredWilliam C.Summers,manager of loss control forMarkel Services,Inc.,the biggest underwriter oflaw enforcement liability insurance in the UnitedStates."Col.Curtis is wrong.This issue won'tcost law enforcement hundreds of thousands ofdollars for litigation. "It will be millions and millions of dollars,"he warned 75 very attentive police chiefs,sheriffs,administrative services commanders and policelegal advisors. What is this "issue"that's going to costfinancially-strapped law enforcement,correctionsand fire/rescue service agencies millions of dollarsthey don't have in the next few years? It's the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA),which goes into effect for all practicalpurposes on Jan.26,1992. There has been much confusion about theADA floating around the United States,as variousconsultants and organizations gear up to offer jobanalyses,seminars,and legal advice. One of the most confusing aspects of theADA is its implementation date for state and localgovernment agencies.Much publicity about theADA states that the part of the ADA enforced bythe U.S.Labor Department's Equal EmploymentOpportunities Commission(EEOC)--which outlawsjob discrimination against people with a variety ofdisabilities--goes into effect for all employers,including state and local government employers,with 25 or more employees after July 26,1992.Itgoes into effect for all employers,including stateand local government employers,with 15 or moreemployees,after July 26,1994.Those dates,h

FAQs

Why does the CDC warn against one-tenth hepatitis B vaccine intradermal dosing for emergency responders?

The document states that some agencies give emergency responders one-tenth doses intradermally in an effort to save money. It cites CDC guidance that this approach is inadequate and urges full intramuscular dosing.

When are state and local law enforcement, corrections, and fire/rescue agencies required to comply with the ADA?

The document emphasizes January 26, 1992, as the effective compliance date for state and local government agencies, regardless of agency size or number of employees.

What happened to efforts by the IACP to seek exemptions for employment standards in the ADA?

The document reports that the IACP sought exemptions for employment standards but failed. It states that only the Federal Government was exempt, while public safety agencies were still subject to the relevant requirements.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by McQueen