State lawmakers’ proposal would limit health orders issued by local governments

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A St. Louis-area state senator is spearheading a legislative effort to limit local governments' power to enact health orders like those meant to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

State Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester, was one of several legislators who held a news conference this week to announce the effort. Koenig pre-filed a bill Monday that could be taken up when the legislative session begins next year.

State Rep. Jim Murphy, R-St. Louis County, sponsored a version of the bill in the House.

Murphy's bill limits health orders from individual government officers that close businesses to 15 days. A "government entity" can implement such orders for 45 days. Longer health orders would require approval from the state health department or legislature.

Politicians have debated for months whether local health officials' authority to issue health orders is too broad. Several local jurisdictions, including Columbia and Boone County, have implemented health orders during the pandemic that started in March.

Boone County's latest orders require masks any time social distancing is not possible. The order also limits occupancy inside businesses and requires restaurants that serve alcohol and bars to stop selling drinks at 10:30 p.m.

Many Republican elected officials and legislators have criticized those orders as being unfair to businesses.

Koenig in his announcement criticized St. Louis County Executive Sam Page's health orders as "out of control." Koenig said he wants to restrict local officials from making "unnecessary restrictions" that hurt businesses.

Boone County Northern Commissioner, Janet Thompson, says this bill is concerning for county health departments. "This is unfortunately the approach of our state legislature has been taking in a lot of instances and just eviscerating the whole concept of local control."

Thompson expresses that this bill completely diminishes the local control that city officials have over their government entity. She said it takes away the control needed by county health departments to do what's best for their particular county. Thompson pointed out that this bill could put Governor Parson in an uncomfortable situation because he has expressed his beliefs in local control throughout the pandemic.

"He's taken the stance, the very public stance that you know when he says the reason he's not imposing a statewide mask order is because he wants to leave it to what? Local control. He wants to leave local officials, local data to guide what happens in each county. He's been very public about that and this is something that's going to put the governor in a very awkward position because it's his party that's pushing this kind of bill.", Thompson stated.

This bill is expected to be reviewed when the general assembly convenes next month and will need a signature from the Governor to pass.

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