The state legislature on Thursday reached an agreement on public masking exemptions, allowing individuals ages 16 and older to wear a medical or surgical grade mask for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease — with the condition of removing it upon request by law enforcement. Other changes in t he latest version of the controversial House Bill 237 include requiring those wearing a mask in public to temporarily remove it upon request by the owner or occupant of public or private property to allow for identification. HB237, now titled "Various Criminal and Election Law Changes," was approved by the Senate on a 28-0 vote Thursday.
The 12 Democrats present on the Senate floor withheld their vote in relation to their objections for inserting campaign finance language into the bill. People are also reading..
. Meanwhile, the House sent the bill to its Rules and Operations committee for consideration, likely Tuesday before a House floor vote to concur. The bill contains a masking exemption for religious institutions.
It's unclear whether the solution clarifies or muddies public-health and law-enforcement concerns over masking, particularly from individuals with severe or chronic health issues who are uncomfortable with being without a mask even momentarily. The N.C.
Department of Health and Human Services said in May its broadest recommendation was the exemption of a medical or surgical grade mask for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease. O.
