(1) The executive director of the department shall design and implement a hepatitis C program to:

(a) Coordinate with local public health officials, health care professionals, public institutions, and community organizations to identify high risk populations, including those associated with currently understood means of transmission, to assist in implementing a model screening process, and to provide information on referral services or to otherwise assist in obtaining treatment for those with hepatitis C infection;

(b) Educate and provide outreach services related to hepatitis C to the general public. At a minimum, public education on these issues shall be designed to:

(I) Provide basic information about the prevalence, transmission, risks, care, and treatment of hepatitis C;

(II) Provide information about co-infection with hepatitis C and the implications of co-infection for other similarly transmitted diseases;

(III) Provide information on screening services available in the community;

(IV) Coordinate with national public education efforts related to the identification and notification of recipients of blood from hepatitis C virus positive donors;

(V) Stimulate interest among and coordinate with community-based organizations to sponsor community forums and to undertake other appropriate community outreach activities; and

(VI) Employ public communication strategies, including the print media, radio, television, video, internet, and any other appropriate form of communication.

(2) The program described in subsection (1) of this section shall be implemented within available appropriations. If available appropriations are inadequate to fund the entire program described in subsection (1) of this section, the program shall be implemented in stages, commencing with the coordination with local public health officials, health care professionals, public institutions and community organizations, as described in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section, and followed by the education of the general public, as described in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section.

(3) The department is authorized to enter into contracts that are necessary for the implementation and operation of the program.

(4) After implementation of subsection (1) of this section, if funding is available, the executive director of the department shall have the authority to implement a system to:

(a) Collect and analyze reports of cases of hepatitis C, without regard to the distinction between chronic and acute;

(b) Investigate all reported cases ofhepatitis C and maintain records of possible sources of transmission;

(c) Prepare a statistical report on the numbers and types of reported hepatitis C cases; and

(d) Report cases to the CDC to the extent permitted by the CDC.

(5) Repealed.