Senator Hammer proposes committee recommendation to relax quarantines when 3–6 ft distancing is used; chair defers motion

On Sept. 8 Sen. Shawn Hammer offered a formal motion asking the public health committee to recommend that the Department of Health and Department of Education permit students to forego quarantine when 3–6 foot social distancing is achievable.

Hammer framed the motion by citing CDC guidance and BLR testimony about quarantines and sought a committee recommendation that, where 3–6 foot distancing is achievable, students not be required to quarantine unless local policy determines otherwise. The chair declined to accept the motion that day, saying she wanted to give the health department and education department time to study the matter and asked that it be taken up at the next public health committee meeting.

The motion was proposed by Senator Hammer and was not seconded or voted upon. The chair recorded the motion and deferred the matter for follow‑up discussion at a future meeting.

Outcome: Motion not adopted at this meeting; deferred for further agency review.