Missoula County opposes HB 257: Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses, up for hearing tomorrow morning in the House Judiciary Committee. This bill opens the door to widespread regulatory exemptions for private businesses, where those entities responsible for protecting public health have no way to enforce laws in place. Specifically, the broad language around not “denying a customer access to goods or services at a private business” could be read to mean that local boards of health and health officers cannot order a business to close, which is sometimes a necessary step to protect public health. For example, this could prevent a health board or officer from ordering a business to close when a sewage back-up or other unsanitary conditions are present in a restaurant kitchen.
Missoula County opposes HB 257: Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses, up for a second reading on the House floor this afternoon. This bill opens the door to widespread regulatory exemptions for private businesses, where those entities responsible for protecting public health have no way to enforce laws in place. Specifically, the broad language around not “denying a customer access to goods or services at a private business” could be read to mean that local boards of health and health officers cannot order a business to close, which is sometimes a necessary step to protect public health. For example, this could prevent a health board or officer from ordering a business to close when a sewage back-up or other unsanitary conditions are present in a restaurant kitchen.
The Missoula City-County Health Department writes in opposition to HB 257. This bill opens the door to sweeping regulatory exemptions for private businesses, leaving those entities responsible for protecting public health with no way to enforce laws in place. While this bill is likely a reaction to measures put in place during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, the consequences of these changes to law will affect the everyday health of Montanans. Local boards of health and health officers are tasked with protecting consumers, which at times requires compelling business owners to deny customers access to their business or their goods and services because of unsafe conditions on the premises or because the specific goods or services offered are unsafe or unapproved for consumption. The broad language is HB 257 could prevent boards of health and health officers from enforcing public health laws to protect members of the community. Without enforcement of public health laws at private businesses, unsafe premises or unsafe goods could continue to be present. Examples of these unsafe premises or goods include: food associated with food-borne illness, or being sold with unapproved additives; a rodent infestation at a restaurant; cloudy, unsafe water at a pool; sewage backing up in a bar; etc.. These situations pose great risk to the community if the business owner cannot be compelled to resolve the issues. The changes in this bill would enable a business to continue violating public health laws without repercussions, at the expense of innocent customers who visit that business not knowing conditions are unsafe. This pandemic has been a test of our laws and current systems in place. After the dust settles, our public health system should be studied and reviewed. The Missoula City-County Health Department is open to change and committed to improvement. This bill would not improve public health, and we urge you to vote ‘no’ on HB 257.
Missoula County opposes HB 257: Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses, up for hearing Monday morning in the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill opens the door to widespread regulatory exemptions for private businesses, where those entities responsible for protecting public health have no way to enforce laws in place. Specifically, the broad language around not “denying a customer access to goods or services at a private business” could be read to mean that local boards of health and health officers cannot order a business to close, which is sometimes a necessary step to protect public health. For example, this could prevent a health board or officer from ordering a business to close when a sewage back-up or other unsanitary conditions are present in a restaurant kitchen.
Missoula County opposes HB 257: Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses, up for second reading this afternoon on the House floor. This bill opens the door to widespread regulatory exemptions for private businesses, where those entities responsible for protecting public health have no way to enforce laws in place. Specifically, the broad language around not “denying a customer access to goods or services at a private business” could be read to mean that local boards of health and health officers cannot order a business to close, which is sometimes a necessary step to protect public health. For example, this could prevent a health board or officer from ordering a business to close when a sewage back-up or other unsanitary conditions are present in a restaurant kitchen.
Missoula County continues to oppose, as amended, HB 257: Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses, up for second reading this afternoon on the House floor. This bill opens the door to widespread regulatory exemptions for private businesses, where those entities responsible for protecting public health have no way to enforce laws in place. Specifically, the broad language around not “denying a customer access to goods or services at a private business” could be read to mean that local boards of health and health officers cannot order a business to close, which is sometimes a necessary step to protect public health. For example, this could prevent a health board or officer from ordering a business to close when a sewage back-up or other unsanitary conditions are present in a restaurant kitchen.
Representatives France and Tenenbaum,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes HB 257: Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses, up for hearing tomorrow morning in the House Judiciary Committee. This bill opens the door to widespread regulatory exemptions for private businesses, where those entities responsible for protecting public health have no way to enforce laws in place. Specifically, the broad language around not “denying a customer access to goods or services at a private business” could be read to mean that local boards of health and health officers cannot order a business to close, which is sometimes a necessary step to protect public health. For example, this could prevent a health board or officer from ordering a business to close when a sewage back-up or other unsanitary conditions are present in a restaurant kitchen.
Please oppose HB 257.
Representatives,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes HB 257: Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses, up for a second reading on the House floor this afternoon. This bill opens the door to widespread regulatory exemptions for private businesses, where those entities responsible for protecting public health have no way to enforce laws in place. Specifically, the broad language around not “denying a customer access to goods or services at a private business” could be read to mean that local boards of health and health officers cannot order a business to close, which is sometimes a necessary step to protect public health. For example, this could prevent a health board or officer from ordering a business to close when a sewage back-up or other unsanitary conditions are present in a restaurant kitchen.
Please oppose HB 257.
Staff testimony, Feb. 1:
ReplyDeleteThe Missoula City-County Health Department writes in opposition to HB 257. This bill opens the door
to sweeping regulatory exemptions for private businesses, leaving those entities responsible for
protecting public health with no way to enforce laws in place.
While this bill is likely a reaction to measures put in place during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, the
consequences of these changes to law will affect the everyday health of Montanans. Local boards of
health and health officers are tasked with protecting consumers, which at times requires compelling
business owners to deny customers access to their business or their goods and services because of
unsafe conditions on the premises or because the specific goods or services offered are unsafe or
unapproved for consumption.
The broad language is HB 257 could prevent boards of health and health officers from enforcing public
health laws to protect members of the community. Without enforcement of public health laws at
private businesses, unsafe premises or unsafe goods could continue to be present. Examples of these
unsafe premises or goods include: food associated with food-borne illness, or being sold with
unapproved additives; a rodent infestation at a restaurant; cloudy, unsafe water at a pool; sewage
backing up in a bar; etc.. These situations pose great risk to the community if the business owner
cannot be compelled to resolve the issues. The changes in this bill would enable a business to continue
violating public health laws without repercussions, at the expense of innocent customers who visit that
business not knowing conditions are unsafe.
This pandemic has been a test of our laws and current systems in place. After the dust settles, our
public health system should be studied and reviewed. The Missoula City-County Health Department is
open to change and committed to improvement. This bill would not improve public health, and we
urge you to vote ‘no’ on HB 257.
Senators Sands and Bennett,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes HB 257: Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses, up for hearing Monday morning in the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill opens the door to widespread regulatory exemptions for private businesses, where those entities responsible for protecting public health have no way to enforce laws in place. Specifically, the broad language around not “denying a customer access to goods or services at a private business” could be read to mean that local boards of health and health officers cannot order a business to close, which is sometimes a necessary step to protect public health. For example, this could prevent a health board or officer from ordering a business to close when a sewage back-up or other unsanitary conditions are present in a restaurant kitchen.
Please oppose HB 257.
Representatives,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes HB 257: Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses, up for second reading this afternoon on the House floor. This bill opens the door to widespread regulatory exemptions for private businesses, where those entities responsible for protecting public health have no way to enforce laws in place. Specifically, the broad language around not “denying a customer access to goods or services at a private business” could be read to mean that local boards of health and health officers cannot order a business to close, which is sometimes a necessary step to protect public health. For example, this could prevent a health board or officer from ordering a business to close when a sewage back-up or other unsanitary conditions are present in a restaurant kitchen.
Please oppose HB 257.
Representatives,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County continues to oppose, as amended, HB 257: Revise laws relating to government mandates and businesses, up for second reading this afternoon on the House floor. This bill opens the door to widespread regulatory exemptions for private businesses, where those entities responsible for protecting public health have no way to enforce laws in place. Specifically, the broad language around not “denying a customer access to goods or services at a private business” could be read to mean that local boards of health and health officers cannot order a business to close, which is sometimes a necessary step to protect public health. For example, this could prevent a health board or officer from ordering a business to close when a sewage back-up or other unsanitary conditions are present in a restaurant kitchen.
Please oppose HB 257.