Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
SDPB Radio Coverage of the South Dakota Legislature. See all coverage and find links to audio and video streams live from the Capitol at www.sdpb.org/statehouse

Gov Wants Laws To Contain Diseases

Governor Dennis Daugaard says he wants the Department of Health to have better authority to contain infectious diseases like Ebola and Measles or even the flu.  He says current contagious disease control statutes are vague and only specifically address tuberculosis.

Daugaard:  (:27) We’re going to come forward with a proposal to repeal most of those disease specific statutes for the most part and then broaden the statutes that allow the department of health to react to any contagious disease that presents a public health risk.  It’s timely for that because people are aware how one thing can lead to another.

Daugaard says by cleaning up outdated statutes the department of Health won’t have to question what they can or cannot do if there is an epidemic. 

Cara Hetland is the Director of Radio and Journalism Content for South Dakota Public Broadcasting.