The Massachusetts Senate has unanimously passed a pandemic flu preparation bill that has languished in the Legislature before the recent swine flu outbreak.
The 36-0 vote today sends the measure to the House. Both branches have taken it up in past years, but have not been able to agree on the details.
No need to panic, you say? This is nothing other than prudent planning in the face of what could be a serious health crisis, you say? Well, bull, I say:
The new Senate version would allow the public health commissioner — in a public health emergency — to close or evacuate buildings, enter private property for investigations, and quarantine individuals.
If that doesn't send a chill down your spine, I don't want to know you.
That is all.
5 comments:
If'n you should find yourself in need, the Tweaker Homestead will happily provide living quarters for the G. Family in the safety of Deepinhearta, TX until you find permanent housing facilities.
You know, there's a real nice 2-story right across the street from me for sale...:)
tweaker
Doesn't the federal government already claim that authority under some executive order or other?
How many thousands of people have died of plain old regular flu this year? And now the VP is telling people not to fly the (financially strapped) airlines, because of THIS flu.
I think someone has been snorting their tamaflu.
Brigid,
I believe the number you seek is 36 - 36,000 average annual deaths in the U.S. from influenza
I don't think this would actually change the health authorities' ability to enter private premises very much, if at all. Historically, governmental functions like public health, child protection and firefighting aren't subject to the same 4th Amendment rules as a police search for law enforcement purposes.
Police can use the 'exigent circumstances' exception to the general rule that a warrant is required for a search if they go into some place in order to help someone they think is in trouble. Like when Bogart's character in the Maltese Falcon(Sam Spade) calls for help to the cops at the door when he's being held at gunpoint...
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