Section 2001 Of Article 1. General Provisions From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 1.
2001
. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) California's climate and topography support a wide diversity
of biological organisms.
(2) Most of these organisms are beneficial, but some are vectors
of human disease pathogens or directly cause other human diseases
such as hypersensitivity, envenomization, and secondary infections.
(3) Some of these diseases, such as mosquitoborne viral
encephalitis, can be fatal, especially in children and older
individuals.
(4) California's connections to the wider national and
international economies increase the transport of vectors and
pathogens.
(5) Invasions of the United States by vectors such as the Asian
tiger mosquito and by pathogens such as the West Nile virus
underscore the vulnerability of humans to uncontrolled vectors and
pathogens.
(b) The Legislature further finds and declares:
(1) Individual protection against the vectorborne diseases is only
partially effective.
(2) Adequate protection of human health against vectorborne
diseases is best achieved by organized public programs.
(3) The protection of Californians and their communities against
the discomforts and economic effects of vectorborne diseases is an
essential public service that is vital to public health, safety, and
welfare.
(4) Since 1915, mosquito abatement and vector control districts
have protected Californians and their communities against the threats
of vectorborne diseases.
(c) In enacting this chapter, it is the intent of the Legislature
to create and continue a broad statutory authority for a class of
special districts with the power to conduct effective programs for
the surveillance, prevention, abatement, and control of mosquitoes
and other vectors.
(d) It is also the intent of the Legislature that mosquito
abatement and vector control districts cooperate with other public
agencies to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. Further,
the Legislature encourages local communities and local officials to
adapt the powers and procedures provided by this chapter to meet the
diversity of their own local circumstances and responsibilities.