Legislation

Another well-intentioned piece of legislation, addressing the opioid overdose crisis, threatened to erode the trust addicted people have with their doctors by allowing doctors to break confidentiality and tell family members and friends of a person's addicted status - even over their express wishes.

A package of legislation developed as part of Rep. Teresa Tanzi's commission to study sexual harassment in the workplace could have had important and long-lasting effects. The ACLU testified in support of the entire package of legislation in June, but a few bills are especially worth highlighting.

The Department of Health legislation creates a multi-disciplinary team to review overdose deaths in conjunction with the state Medical Examiner, in order to identify emerging trends in drug overdoses and, hopefully, reduce deaths in the future.

Legislation was introduced which sought to impose felony penalties against any person who assists a minor in obtaining an abortion in another state without the consent of the minor's parents or the courts.

A proposal would allow doctors virtually unbridled authority to disclose a person's addiction status in the case of an overdose, even if the person is stable and able to make medical decisions and has expressed their desire that such information remain private.

A pair of bills to address the opioid overdose crisis would have caused considerable damage instead by allowing for the involuntary commitment of people with substance abuse disorders considered a danger to themselves or others.

In April, the ACLU testified in opposition to a resolution encouraging "law enforcement officials to recognize white nationalist and neo-nazi groups as terrorist organizations." While these groups may indeed promote odious views, the First Amendment nevertheless protects their right to speak.

In April, the ACLU testified before the House Judiciary committee in support of legislation to clarify the law protecting medical marijuana patients from discrimination by their employers.

Legislation passed by the General Assembly this year will impose additional onerous registration and community notification requirements on sex offenders which make it even more difficult to find housing and rehabilitate and reintegrate into society.