Legal Requirements

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Although the Whole Community approach was articulated within the past five years, it is upheld by well-established national, state, and local laws.

National Acts

* This timeline indicates the original years of the acts, not the years of the most recent amendments.

Additional Laws of Interest

In addition to the national laws, there are a number of other laws of interest for those using the Whole Community Approach. These laws include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Massachusetts General Law Chapter 151B
• 1934 Communications Act
• 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
  • Disclosure for Emergency Preparedness – A Decision Tool
• 2006 Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act
• 2013-2014 Massachusetts Bill S.1172

Case Studies

Over the past few years, there have been a number of cases due to potential violations of the national acts mentioned earlier. A number of these cases are summarized on our topic page for Shelter Operations Functional Needs Support Services.

Non-discrimination Principles of the Law

To comply with the laws outlined above, there are 10 key nondiscrimination concepts that individuals involved in emergency management should understand. These principles apply to all phases of emergency management.

Effective Communication Equal Access Equal Opportunity No "One Size Fits All" Physical Access

Inclusion Integration No Charge Program Modification Self-Determination

For practice on defining these principles, complete the Non-discrimination Principles of the Law worksheet.

Sample Solution: Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters, pg. 10-11

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