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PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The state Senate has passed a measure that would more easily allow the state to react to deadly disease outbreaks.
Senators voted 29-5 Tuesday to approve the plan, which was backed by the Department of Health and would expand the state's authority to respond to serious communicable diseases.
Republican Sen. Craig Tieszen says the measure came as a result of the Ebola scare that peaked last fall. He says the measure modernizes the types of diseases included in state law, which was focused on Tuberculosis.
Republican Sen. Phil Jensen questions why the bill is necessary and says the bill itself should be quarantined. It heads to Gov. Dennis Daugaard's desk.
The proposal originally gave the state authority over all top-tier diseases. It was amended in January to cover just five.
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