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Witnesses urge repeal of North Dakota HIV criminalization law in House Human Services hearing
Summary
Supporters, including the bill sponsor, the ACLU and state health officials, told the House Human Services Committee that North Dakota Century Code section 12.1-20-17 is outdated, discourages testing and treatment, and does not reflect modern HIV science; the committee heard extensive testimony but took no committee vote during this session.
The House Human Services Committee heard extensive testimony in favor of House Bill 1217, which would repeal North Dakota Century Code section 12.1-20-17, the statute that makes willful transfer of body fluid containing HIV a felony.
Representative Gretchen Dobrovich, sponsor of HB 1217, told the committee the statute singles out HIV among infectious diseases and carries penalties up to a 20-year prison term and $20,000 fine. "HIV is the only infectious disease that carries felony charges for knowingly infecting another person," she said in opening testimony (Representative Gretchen Dobrovich, sponsor testimony, 00:00:50).
Nut graf: Supporters — including public-health experts, civil-rights advocates and people living with HIV — said the law is rooted in outdated science and creates stigma that discourages testing, disclosure and treatment, undermining public-health goals. They urged the…
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