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Committee backs bill to shift COVID enforcement away from businesses; health officials warn of enforcement gaps
Summary
The committee advanced Senate Bill 289, which directs agencies to engage noncompliant patrons rather than penalize businesses during the COVID emergency; Department of Health officials said the language could hamper enforcement and invite litigation.
Senate Bill 289, sponsored by Senator Kim Hammer, would direct public‑health and other agencies during the COVID‑19 emergency to address noncompliant patrons directly rather than penalize the businesses that host them. Hammer said the intent is to ease burdens on small businesses and remove the expectation that owners act as enforcers of emergency directives.
Laura Shue, general counsel for the Department of Health, and Matt Gilmore of…
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