HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 15512Ordinance No. ~ `-~ ~'`' `"
AN ORDINANCE INCREASING APPROPRIATIONS IN THE WORKERS'
COMPENSATION .FUND BY $270,400.00 AND DECREASING THE
UNRESERVED, DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE BY $270,400.00 FOR THE
PURPOSE OF FUNDING HEPATITIS A VACCINATIONS; MAKING THIS
ORDINANCE CUMULATIVE OF PRIOR ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT
HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH,
TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That in addition to those amounts allocated to the various City departments for Fiscal Year 2002-
2003 in the Budget of the City Manager, there shall also be increased appropriations , in the
Workers' Compensation Fund by $270,400.00 and decreasing the unreserved, designated fund
balance by $270,400.00 for the purpose of funding Hepatitis A vaccinations.
SECTION 2.
That should any portion, section or part of a section of this ordinance be declared invalid,
inoperative or void for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision, opinion or
judgment shall in no way impair the remaining portions, sections, or parts of sections of this
ordinance, which said remaining provisions shall be and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3.
That this ordinance shall be cumulative of Ordinance No. 15184 and all other ordinances and
appropriations amending the same except in those instances where the provisions of this ordinance
are in direct conflict with such other ordinances and appropriations, in which instance said
conflicting provisions of said prior ordinances and appropriations are hereby expressly repealed.
SECTION 4.
This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Asses t City orney
ADOPTED AND EFFECTIVE:
City of Fort Worth, Texas
~lhl~yar And Caunc~l Cammun~cAt~an
DATE REFERENCE NUMBER LOG NAME PAGE
4/8/03 **C-19534 14VAC 1 of 3
suB~EGT PROVISION OF HEPATITIS A VACCINATIONS FOR FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE
OFFICERS AND OTHER AT-RISK EMPLOYEE GROUPS
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
Authorize the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement with Tarrant County to provide
immunizations against Hepatitis A for firefighters, police officers, and other employees who may be
at risk for the disease; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to amend City Secretary Contract No. 24469 with Concentra Health
Services, Inc. to provide testing for Hepatitis A antibodies in the blood for firefighters, police officers,
and other employees who have received immunizations against Hepatitis A; and
3. Adopt the attached appropriation ordinance increasing appropriations in the Workers' Compensation Fund
by $270,400 and decreasing the unreserved, designated fund balance by the same amount.
DISCUSSION:
One facet of the City's occupational health program involves preventive measures recommended by
health protocols and/or required by state statutes. Health protocols are outlined by the National Center
for Disease Control, as well as Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, to which the
City is not subject, but which provide sound guidance on occupational health and safety issues. The
governing state statute is the Texas Government Code Section 607.004, which states:
a) A certified firefighter or other governmental employee who operates an ambulance or who
responds to emergency medical calls is entitled to preventative immunization for any disease to
which the firefighter or other governmental employee may be exposed in performing official
duties and for which immunization is possible; and
b) The employee and any member of the employee's immediate family are entitled to vaccination
for a contagious disease to which the employee is exposed during the course of employment; and
c) The employing governmental entity may satisfy the requirements of this section by:
• Providing the immunization or vaccination without charge; or
• Reimbursing the employee for any necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by the
employee for the immunization or vaccination.
The City currently provides immunizations for Hepatitis B to Police Department, Fire Department, and
other City workers who are at risk of contracting the disease (some or all employees in the
Transportation and Public Works Department and Sewer Field Operations).
For several years, the City has also provided immunizations against influenza for the same groupings of City
employees who have the potential for exposure. In 2002, the City began offering flu shots to all City employees,
in order to decrease employee absenteeism due to influenza and upper respiratory infection, and to reduce the
impact of flu-related illnesses on delivery of City services. Such preventive vaccinationsfimmunizations are
funded in the City's occupational health budget by the Human Resources Department.
City of Fort Worth, Texas
~lhl~yar And Caunc~l Cammun~cAt~an
DATE REFERENCE NUMBER LOG NAME PAGE
4/8/03 **C-19534 14VAC 2 of 3
suB~EGT PROVISION OF HEPATITIS A VACCINATIONS FOR FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE
OFFICERS AND OTHER AT-RISK EMPLOYEE GROUPS
In reviewing the statutory requirements, and in light of homeland security issues and the potential for
biological warfare, staff is recommending a more proactive approach to immunization of employees to
ensure their safety and ability to continue to provide essential City services. More specifically, staff is
recommending that Hepatitis A vaccinations be offered to the employee groups "at risk," that is, those
who have the potential for exposure.
Hepatitis A is transmitted from person to person via fecal-oral contact. Risk factors for Hepatitis A
include foreign travel to high-prevalence countries, men who have sex with men, and drug use.
Firefighters are considered to be at significant risk for the disease because of their role as first
responders in the event of a medical emergency. Police officers are also at risk because of their
frequent contact with high risk populations, such as drug users.
Other City department employees at risk for the disease include:
• Employees in Sewer Field Operations; and
• Employees in the Transportation and Public Works Department and the Parks and Community
Services Department who perform clean-up duties in areas frequented by drug users or other
high risk populations; and
• Employees in the Parks and Community Services Department who work in community centers; and
• Employees in the Development Department who perform plumbing inspections; and
• Employees in the Public Health Department who provide health services; and
• Employees in the Public Events Department and Public Health's Animal Control Division who
work with animals; and
• Employees in the Equipment Services Department who perform clean-up of vehicles
confiscated by drug dealers.
Staff contacted five medical providers to obtain information concerning their costs to provide Hepatitis A
vaccinations. The prices ranged from $35 to $75/per shot, with Tarrant County offering the lowest price of
$35.
While this vaccination will be available for all affected employees, it is anticipated that many employees
to whom it is offered will not get the shots. If all do receive the shot for FY2002-2003, the estimated
expenditure with Tarrant County for providing this vaccination to affected employees is $212,800. It is
anticipated that in future years the annual cost would decrease to approximately $7,000 as the
vaccination would be provided to new employees, and to current employees on an as-needed basis.
This need would be determined by the results of a test for Hepatitis A antibodies in the blood.
Tarrant County does not provide testing for Hepatitis A antibodies in the blood. This testing is required
to ensure that the immunizations have provided immunity to the disease and is available from
Concentra Health Services, Inc. at $19 per titer, which was the lowest price of four medical providers
who could provide the titer test for all immunized employees.
City of Fort Worth, Texas
M,~yar and Caunc~l L'ammun~cAtion
DATE REFERENCE NUMBER LOG NAME PAGE
4/8/03 **C-19534 14VAC 3 of 3
suB~EGT PROVISION OF HEPATITIS A VACCINATIONS FOR FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE
OFFICERS AND OTHER AT-RISK EMPLOYEE GROUPS
If all affected employees receive the Hepatitis A immunizations for FY2002-2003, the estimated
expenditure with Concentra Health Services, Inc. for providing the test for Hepatits A antibodies in the
blood to affected employees is $57,600. It is anticipated that in future years the annual cost would
decrease to approximately $380 as the test for Hepatitis A antibodies would be provided only to new
employees.
The total cost for providing the Hepatitis A shots and the titer for FY2002-2003, if all affected employees
(approximately 3,863) receive the immunizations, is $270,400:
Immunizations (Tarrant County) $212,800
Titer test (Concentra Health Services, Inc.) $ 57,600
Total $270,400
Staff is proposing to fund this expenditure from the reserve balance of the Workers' Compensation
Fund.
Projected Fund Balance as of September 30, 2003: $ 3,862,352
Hepatitis A Vaccination Expenditure ($ 270,400
Revised Projected Fund Balance as of September 30, 2003 $3,591,952
The anticipated fund balance will be sufficient to provide funding for catastrophic occupational injuries.
FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION:
The Finance Director certifies that upon adoption of the attached appropriation ordinance, funds will be
available in the current operating budget, as appropriated, of the Worker's Compensation Fund.
BG:r
Submitted for City Manager's FUND ACCOUNT CENTER AMOUNT CITY SECRETARY
Office by: (to)
(3) FE73 539120 0147310 $270,400.00
Bridgette Garrett (Acting) 6183
Originating Department Head:
Linda Cobb 7783 (from) APPROVED 04/08/03
(1 & 2) FE73 539120 0147310 $270,400.00 ORD.# 15512
Additional Information Contact:
Linda Cobb 7783