In a sharply worded criticism, Senator Joe Pittman warns that Governor Josh Shapiro’s recently proposed new health regulations would “give the state far more power to enter our homes, businesses, schools and doctor’s offices without a warrant.”
The Shapiro Administration characterizes the regulations as a “strategic enforcement initiative to protect home care workers’ rights,” but Pittman says the Senate is “not about to let 502 pages of regulations run people’s lives,” likening them to former Governor Tom Wolf’s actions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Shapiro’s proposal was made before the measles outbreak that is currently afflicting Pennsylvania. Among other new regulations, it almost doubles (from 63 to 116) the list of diseases, infections, and conditions that must be reported to the state health department . It also allows the state more authority to take action it feels would “prevent, contain, or mitigate” an outbreak.
A particular concern of critics is that the state could interview children about a medical issue without the knowledge or consent of their parents.
Senator Pittman encourages people to file their concerns with the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission during a public comment period that is open through September 21st.
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