Four bills expand emergency powers

Daily Times ^ | 2-20-03 | Paula Pennell

[1ofmanyfree]

http://www.daily-times.com

A6 Thursday, February 20, 2003

LOCAL/MORE FROM PAGE 1

Four bills expand emergency powers

By Paula Pennell

Daily Times Santa Fe Bureau chief

SANTA FE The House of Representatives passed four bills Wednesday relating to public emergencies, including a measure giving the governor express authority to order an evacuation during an emergency, such as a terrorist attack.

House Bill 253, sponsored by Rep. Gloria Vaughn, R-Alamogordo allows the governor to set curfews, restrict the possession of firearms to residences or businesses, except for peace officers, and order the evacuation of the population during emergencies.

Rep. W. Ken Martinez, D- Grants, called the bill " a very good piece of legislation." He commended Vaughn on the measure, saying, "You did a very good job bringing everyone together on this. "

Debate was also heard on two public emergency bills sponsored by Rep. John Heaton, D-Carlsbad.

Heaton said HB 231 was drafted as a result of eight town hall meetings across the state to gather input on how to protect the rights of citizens during a public health emergency.

Heaton said the idea for the legislation came about after the Sept. 11 terror attacks and subsequent anthrax outbreaks on the East Coast.

"We have effective means of intervening" during a public health emergency, he said, but there are no provisions in previous legislation that deals with protecting civil liberties.

The bill guarantees due process protection, said Heaton, for anyone who is isolated or quarantined during a public health emergency.

The bill also contains an amendment that protects someone’s job if they are quarantined or isolated, he said.

Heaton said the bill allows quarantined individuals the right to speak with family, media and spiritual guides, such as a pastor or priest, along with the right to an attorney and the right to a hearing, Heaton said.

Rep. Earlene Roberts. R-Lovlngton, who cast the only negative vote on the bill, questioned the need for additional legislation on public emergencies.

Heaton said the legislation is necessary, because "we don’t have a process whereby people’s civil liberties can be protected."

House Bill 232, also sponsored by Heaton, deals with recompiling sections of the Emergency Power Codes relating to disaster relief and emergency management.

The legislation allows the material to be compiled into one section, said Heaton.

A fourth bill, sponsored by Rep. Vaughn, amending the Inspection of public records act to provide for an exception for certain public records that could he used to facilitate a terrorist attack was also passed by the House.

Paula Pennell: paulap@lcsun-news.com

[1ofmanyfree]

Please pass this information along for inclusion in your State Alerts. As an informed citizen of New Mexico who reads the news paper daily, watches news channels, listens to the local News/Talk AM station, frequent FReeRepublic daily, I had no idea this was even being concidered by our new Dem. governor Bill (Clinton appoitee,hotshot) Richardson and Dem controled house and senate, let alone voted into law. This has to be illegal and hope it is challenged here in the courts soon! Is this State to be a test area for these type programs? Opions please? Before my letters go out.

[1ofmanyfree]

Opinions? how did it miss that one?

[freeper12]

>>restrict the possession of firearms to residences or businesses

Its only a matter of time before the govt decides that it can no longer trust the average citizens with ANY guns...all in the name of national security.

[1ofmanyfree]

Exactly, the incremental method.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Heaton said the legislation is necessary, because "we don’t have a process whereby people’s civil liberties can be protected."

protected? They just passed a bill eliminating them.
Are you sure this isn't Rhode Island?