House lawmakers have narrowed the scope of a bill which allows health officials to enforce contagious disease procedures. Under House Bill 1058 the State Department of Health may quarantine or isolate individuals who refuse to follow state procedures when they are infected with a contagious disease. The original measure applied to all Category 1 reportable diseases. Lawmakers modified the legislation to only apply to tuberculosis, MERS, SARS, smallpox and Ebola. Despite the changes the measure received strong opposition. Representative Lynne DiSanto of Rapid City says the bill violates civil liberties.
"I am a firm believer in the freedoms we have in this country and the autonomy when making choices for own health and that of our families. It seems to me that legislating who, how and when a person must receive medical treatment goes directly against those freedoms," says DiSanto.
Proponents of House Bill 1058 say there is a delicate balance between individual rights and public safety and this measure is needed to protect the health of the public.
The bill passed by a vote of 41 to 27 and now moves to the Senate.