Welch bill outlines quarantine procedures (Indiana)

[Susan]

Staff report

Indiana House members passed a bill co-authored by State Representative Peggy Welch (D-Bloomington) that outlines the rules for quarantine and isolation.

Mrs. Welch represents portions of Brown County.

House Bill 1235 establishes a procedure for public health authority to obtain or issue an order to restrict the movement of an individual who has been exposed to a communicable disease.

?The threat of a pandemic illness, such as avian flue, has pressed Indiana to have a solid plan in place to handle health disasters,? Rep. Welch said.

This bill makes it a Class A misdemeanor to violate any quarantine that is put in place.

?It is hard to tell someone that you cannot leave an area for a certain period of time with no contact with family and friends; however, a quarantine may be needed for the person and the general public?s protection,? she said.

The bill also provides protection from civil liability to any person or facility in the event of a disaster.

?This language is needed for Indiana in the case of a disaster, such as an earthquake,? Rep. Welch said.

?Hurricane Katrina has taught us that we need to be prepared.?

House Bill 1235 will now move to the Indiana Senate.

http://www.browncountyindiana.com/main.asp?SectionID=42&SubSectionID=211&ArticleID=7172&TM=63825.95

 

[Susan]

Re: Welch bill outlines quarantine procedures (Indiana)

In Indiana a Class A misdemeanor can get you up to a $5000 fine and 365 days in jail.

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:m5uLHEpK_QAJ:www.violenceresource.org/statute.htm+%22Class+A+misdemeanor%22+indiana&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4