Senate Bill 5 in Indiana aims to restrict local health departments' ability to issue mandates Share Updated: 11:15 PM EDT Apr 2, 2021 Share Updated: 11:15 PM EDT Apr 2, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript COUNTY LEGISLATORS. SENATE BILL 5 AIMS TO RESTRICT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS’ ABILITY TO ISSUE MANDATES. IT COMES AS INDIANA IS ENDING ITS STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS DUE TO COVID-19 AND LEAVING IT UP TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DECIDE ON ANY MANDATES. >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT IS A CHECKS AND BALANCES PROCESS GETTING BACK TO BASIC CIVICS. REPORTER: CLARK COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S DR. ERIC YAZEL SAYS HE WORKED ON THE EARLY VERSION OF THE BILL WITH ONE OF ITS AUTHORS, CHARLESTOWN SENATOR CHRIS GARTEN. THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS GET APPROVAL FROM A COUNTY LEGISLATIVE BODY BEFORE ISSUING MANDATES. >> I THINK WE HAVE TO EXERT CAUTION ON WHO WILL BE REVIEWING THAT PROCESS. I AM NOT SURE IT IS FAIR TO DUMP THOSE DECISIONS IN THE LAP OF SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE A BACKGROUND IN HEALTH CARE. REPORTER: THIS COMES AS NEXT WEEK, GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB WILL LIFT STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS, INCLUDING THE MASK MANDATE. SEVERAL BUSINESSES THAT WERE HERE AND OPEN IN JEFFERSONVILLE SAY THEY ARE NOT REQUIRING CUSTOMERS TO WEAR A MASK DO RECOMMEND IT. THAT INCLUDES WARREN AND JILL SCHIMPFF WHO OWN SCHIMPFF’S CONFECTIONERY ON SPRING STREET. >> WE ARE NOT GOING TO FORCE ANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING BUT WE RECOMMEND IT AND WE WILL OPEN UP OUR SEATING SO WE ARE BACK TO SEATING BEFORE -- SEATING THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. REPORTER: FOR A STAPLE IN THE JEFFERSONVILLE COMMUNTIY THAT WILL BE CELEBRATING NEARLY 130 YEARS OF BUSINESS, THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE LOWS OF 2020. >> WE SURVIVED. WE GOT OUR PPP THAT CAME ALONG QUICKLY. REPORTER: BUT THEY OWE IT TO THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS, THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS SO THESE DOORS CAN REMAIN OPEN. >> MOST PEOPLE WERE SAYING WHATEVER YOU TELL ME TO DO I WILL DO, SO