California state Senate approved a bill to keep COVID-19 outbreaks secret

[JohnSJ]

The California State Senate approved a bill late Friday evening that upholds the state’s ability to keep the details of workplace COVID-19 outbreaks secret, a win for business groups after key transparency clauses were slashed at the last minute.

AB 654 was revised days before the end of the legislative session Friday to erase a requirement that the California Department of Public Health publicize COVID outbreaks by location, contradicting the author’s stated purpose in drafting the bill and dealing a blow to employees, advocates and epidemiologists who have long argued that such information is essential to protecting workers.

The bill that passed 37-0 contained an urgency clause, meaning it would take effect immediately if signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“The bill now does not seem to be ensuring transparency, but rather going in the opposite direction — and ensuring that the public, local leaders and local health leaders are going to be in the dark in a way they really shouldn’t be,” said David Snyder, an attorney and executive director of the First Amendment Coalition who called its passage “very disappointing.”


https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/09/12/california-senate-passes-bill-allowing-state-to-keep-details-of-covid-outbreaks-secret/?campaign=coronavirus&utm_email=B40A9445E57354EC84A5C5F6AC&g2i_eui=qKpQwaP1OdlfytAMiNtsaE%2bUKUHk6%2fs6&g2i_source=newsletter&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mercurynews.com%2f2021%2f09%2f12%2fcalifornia-senate-passes-bill-allowing-state-to-keep-details-of-covid-outbreaks-secret%2f&utm_campaign=bang-mult-nl-coronavirus&utm_content=curated

[msongs]

1. gotta dance with the one who brung ya nt

[SheltieLover]

2. This is so wrong! 🤬

Not a lawyer, but guessing CDC or maybe OSHA could require reporting?

[JohnSJ]

7. It is wrong, and puts would put workers at risk

[SheltieLover]

10. Absolutely!

[Hekate]

3. Hey! That's just wrong!

[global1]

4. We Are Truly Living In A Bizzaro World.....nt

[Progressive Lawyer]

5. How did this get passed 37-0??? DON'T SIGN THIS BILL NEWSOM!!!

[JohnSJ]

9. Dave Cortese Is my state Senator and I will be contacting his office tomorrow, along with Newsom

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

6. WTF is going on? Did California suddenly morph into Florida?

We used to be ahead of the rest of the country on so many issues -- environment, air pollution, fuel standards, education and COVID response, to name a few. Now it seems the crazies have taken over. Newsom could be kicked out if he gets 49% of the recall vote (which the polls show won't happen, thank god), and if he did the next man in line is a f*king RW Republican entertainer who says the minimum wage should be $0! And with Newsom gone, Larry Elder -- who's polling at 29% -- would take our state back to the Dark Ages.

[JohnSJ]

8. I suspect it was pressure from business, but it hurts everyone, especially workers

[SheltieLover]

11. Absolutely!

Pls x post to Omaha Steve's labor group? Ty!

[JohnSJ]

12. Done