Bill > SB572

This bill aims to protect the religious liberty of patients and residents in health care facilities by allowing them to receive in-person visitation with a religious counselor during a public health emergency, such as a state of disaster or public health disaster. The bill requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to establish guidelines for health care facilities to follow when implementing these in-person visitation policies, including minimum health and safety requirements and allowances for reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. The bill also provides an exception for health care facilities to prohibit in-person visitation if federal law or a federal agency requires them to do so during the public health emergency.