In May, The Sick Times published an op-ed about a novel bill in Illinois that would enshrine the right to wear medical masks into that state’s law. The op-ed’s author, a writer and advocate who was part of the coalition behind the bill, wrote that advocates in several other states had worked on similar legislation.
We received this letter from a reader in California, sharing concerns about the right-to-mask bill currently pending in that state:
Regarding your piece “Illinois could become the first state in the country to ban mask bans. Here’s how we created the bill to do it,” published on May 27:
As a Californian who’s a proponent of COVID-19 safety, I’m concerned about the California bill (AB 1326) shared at the end of the piece as one example of right-to-mask bills in other states. It includes some troubling language, and I wonder if the author of the op-ed has read it in full.
It’s short, and it’s easy to see some of these problems right away. The bill contains disturbing carveouts that allow a broad range of authorities, businesses, workplaces, and public places to force people to unmask for identification.
For example, section 28052 (a)(1)(C) specifies that this bill would not interfere with mask-removal policies in “public places” for identification.
And section 28050 (b) defines “public places” as a disturbingly long list including stores, public transportation, workplaces, academic institutions, and more, including “any other location that is open to the general public.”
As written, this wouldn’t protect people from being forced to unmask in any of these places for identification. If a store, city public transit system, or any of those other places had a policy requiring people to temporarily unmask to enter, this bill wouldn’t protect people from being forced to do that.
No one should have to remove their masks “for identification purposes” or otherwise, temporarily or not, at most of those places. And if it’s not already required by law, such policies definitely shouldn’t be codified into law.
Though the similar bills in Illinois and Massachusetts bills aren’t as bad as California’s, they have some problems, too, that I think really warrant a closer look. I recommend this piece by Chloe Humbert that shares more detailed criticism. Meanwhile, there’s also another, separate California bill (SB 627) that just passed related to ICE agents, law enforcement officers, and masks; readers can look it up here if they’d like to read more.
Also worth reading: in June, Senior and Disability Action (the San Francisco advocacy group that successfully pushed for reinstating mask requirements multiple times in the Bay Area) posted a statement about why they’re not supporting the California bill AB 1326.
This bill is currently on Governor Newsom’s desk, as of September 22. For any readers in California: you can contact Governor Newsom’s office to let him know you want him to veto it. Let him know why you don’t support the bill, or why you’re rescinding your support.
Thanks,
David Miller
To submit a letter to the editors at The Sick Times, email editors@thesicktimes.org and include the phrase “letter to the editors” in your subject line.
