The Senate unanimously passes legislation allowing clergy members access to patients in a hospital during a public health emergency.
The bill by Minden Senator Robert Mills requires the state Health Department to create rules for facilities to do so, and require healthcare facilities to follow them.
“Hospitals and healthcare facilities, nursing homes, would make truly a best efforts basis to allow pastors into their facilities taking the appropriate measures for safety in all cases,” said Mills.
The bill also grants healthcare facilities immunity from most lawsuits by those clergy members should they be infected with coronavirus while visiting.
Mills said the legislation was inspired by the resolution of an incident that happened earlier this year.
“It was brought to light this summer that there was a situation in Maryland where a pastor was denied access to a parishioner in a hospital. A complaint was filed and the federal government got involved,” said Mills.
Earlier in the pandemic, most nursing homes were completely shut off to visits from anyone outside the facility, and hospitals were highly restricted but those rules have since been relaxed.
Mills said his bill protects the religious liberties of patients and families should they want to have a clergy member visit a loved one.
“It will make our families and our pastors confident that they have a reasonable chance of seeing people in times of great need,” said Mills.
The legislation moves to the House.
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