My title here is almost as long as the bill itself, but Sen. Koch has introduced SB 222 which amends the law concerning communicable diseases at a food establishment. Current law says that a person with a communicable or infectious disease can’t work in a food establishment in any capacity in which epidemiological evidence indicates the person may spread the disease. (Pretty sure I’ve seen folks with colds working at fast food joints). The legislation would require a local health department to disclose, upon request, certain information concerning a food establishment with a person who is or was prohibited from working under those circumstances. (I don’t know that the local health department is always going to have this information.)
The health department must disclose the specific disease, the name and location of the food establishment, and the period of time during which the person worked while infectious. The legislation goes on to say, however, that the health department may not disclose the name of the person or any other identifying information of the person. I’m not necessarily against this legislation, but my guess is that, in smaller communities with smaller establishments, the disease, location, name of establishment, and period of time worked are going to be more than enough information for news organizations or citizen sleuths in the comment sections to figure out who has what disease.
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