HOUSE BILL NO. 6315

October 28, 2020, Introduced by Rep. Tate and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

A bill to amend 1978 PA 368, entitled

"Public health code,"

by amending section 2253 (MCL 333.2253), as amended by 2006 PA 157.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 2253. (1) If Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4), if the director determines that control of an epidemic is necessary to protect the public health, the director by emergency order may prohibit the gathering of people persons for any purpose and may establish procedures in the emergency order to be followed during the epidemic to insure ensure continuation of essential public health services and enforcement of health laws. Emergency procedures shall not be are not limited to this code.

(2) If an epidemic described in subsection (1) involves avian influenza or another virus or disease that is or may be spread by contact with animals, the department of agriculture and rural development shall cooperate with and assist the director in the director's response to the epidemic.

(3) Upon On request from the director, the department of agriculture and rural development shall assist the department in any review or update of the department's pandemic influenza plan under section 5112.

(4) The director shall not prohibit in an emergency order issued under this section the gathering of persons for a professional or collegiate sporting event held at an entertainment venue. However, the director may limit the occupancy of the entertainment venue at which a professional or collegiate sporting event is held to 20% capacity or a maximum of 12,500 spectators, whichever is less. As used in this subsection:

(a) "Entertainment venue" means a facility that is primarily used for sporting events or other entertainment.

(b) "Professional or collegiate sporting event" includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(i) A game or match sanctioned by a major professional league or the National Collegiate Athletic Association consisting of teams located in the United States or Canada for any of the following activities:

(A) Ice hockey.

(B) Football.

(C) Soccer.

(D) Baseball.

(E) Basketball.

(ii) A motorsports race and its ancillary activities that have been sanctioned by a sanctioning body as that term is defined in section 518 of the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1518.

(iii) A soccer match between 2 international soccer clubs as part of a tournament sanctioned by the governing body for soccer in the United States.