Latest news with #HB559
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama bill would allow law enforcement to demand people remove medical masks in public
Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, speaks to a colleague on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on Feb. 8, 2024 in Montgomery, Alabama. The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved his bill that allows law enforcement to demand that people remove their masks while in public. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Wednesday approved a bill that gives law enforcement the power to demand that people remove their medical face masks in public so that they can be identified. HB 559, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, allows people to wear a health care mask while in public without being charged with loitering, but allows law enforcement to demand that people show them a note from their medical provider to not spread an infection during a protest. It also allows law enforcement to demand that people remove their masks so that they can be identified. 'If there is not a reason to wear the mask in a public place, this also deals with universities, then there needs to be an excuse for wearing that mask,' Kiel said to members of the committee. 'Instead of just wearing a mask in a place where there may be, like a parade for instance, it is not a masquerade mask, then this would allow law enforcement to request to remove the mask unless they have a medical reason.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX According to the bill, Alabama statute states that people can be charged with loitering if they remain in a public place to panhandle, gamble and to solicit prostitution, and if they remain in a transportation facility for commercial purposes. They can also be charged with loitering if they wear a mask while in a public space or stay on the grounds of the university or college after they are told to leave by officials with the school and who are not connected with the university in some way. People can be charged with a violation if they are charged with loitering for the first time, but they may be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine. The legislation Kiel filed exempts people from getting charged with loitering during times they are wearing a mask while in public, such as a protest or a parade, but they must demonstrate to law enforcement that they have legitimate medical reason. 'If I want to wear my mask for safety procedures, I have to get a doctor's order just for me to stand out (there), or just for the three of us gathering together,' said Tashina Morris, D-Montgomery. Republicans on the committee allows law enforcement to identify people who stay in a public place, such as a protest on school grounds for example, in case any incidents occur, and that university and college officials agree with the measure. 'The only thing we are trying to do is when we are having a situation on campuses where we have some folks who are coming to protest,' said Porter Bannister, vice chancellor for state affairs with the University of Alabama system. 'They may or may not be students. They are telling our police officers, 'No, I will not take off my mask' when we ask them for identification. That is all we are trying to do.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Make Elevators Great Again' bill passes first reading in NC House
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A bill that seeks to adjust fees higher for inspections on elevators and 'amusement devices' has been filed in the NC House with the goal of eliminating the current backlog. House Bill 559 — which bears the name 'Make Elevators Great Again' — was filed on March 27 and is sponsored by seven Republican representatives. Authors of the bill call these changes 'modest, common-sense fee adjustments' that will empower the NC Dept. of Labor to eliminate the inspection backlog while raising inspector pay to market rates. The bill is not limited to only fees. It also has something to say about safety standards. The bill, as written, would give the Commissioner of Labor the power to waive or amend the American National Safety Standards as those standards relate to the qualifications of inspectors if the Commissioner sets 'alternative standards that are reasonably equivalent.' HB 559 seeks to repeal three general statutes that exist to cap inspection and certificate issuing fees. The already existing caps are at $200, as established in the Elevator Safety Act of North Carolina; $250 as established in the Amusement Device Safety Act of North Carolina; and $137, as established in the state's Passenger Tram Safety guidelines. What the bill seeks to add are new general statutes that would allow the Department of Labor to adjust fees each year based on the year's consumer price index. If passed, this change would begin on July 1, 2025, with the bill outlining these new cap prices: $1,000 Special, expedited inspection fee $1,000 Reinspection fee of failed new and repair/alteration $500 Routine/annual escalator and moving walk inspections $300 Routine/annual elevator inspections (10 or more floors) $300 Temporary limited certificate for construction use (10 or more floors) $200 Temporary limited certificate for construction use (Less than 10 floors) $200 Routine/annual elevator inspections (Less than 10 floors) $100 Routine/annual wheelchair lift and dumbwaiter inspections If approved, the State Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau (which conducts the inspections) would be required to publish any changes to price caps with 60 days notice in the NC Register. Other caps stipulated in the bill include inspection cap fees of $500 for roller coasters, $300 for water slides and $50 per Go Kart, among others. You can view the full bill here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
