Missoula City-County Board of Health

301 West Alder Street | Missoula MT 59802-4123

www.missoulacounty.us/government/health/health-department/boards-councils

ADMINISTRATION
Phone | 406.258.3376
Fax | 406.258.4857

December 17, 2020

Representative Wylie Galt, House Speaker

Senator Mark Blasdel, Senate President
Montana Legislature
Capitol
Helena, MT 59820

Dear Legislative Leaders:

In the interest of protecting Montana’s health and preserving the public right to participate in their
government, the Missoula City-County Board of Health urges the leaders and rule-makers of Montana’s
2021 Legislature to adopt rules that mitigate the spread of COVID-19 during Session activities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and numerous health and science-based organizations
recommend the use of face coverings and social distancing as key measures to lessen the spread of the
pandemic coronavirus that has sickened, and killed numerous Montanans, disrupted our daily lives—
including schools and businesses, and dangerously overloaded our hospitals. Because the use of cloth
face coverings is primarily a means to protect others from one’s potentially infectious breath, failing to
require mask use among all allows the choice of one to jeopardize the rights, health, and participation of
others.

Failure to ensure universal mask use, practice safe social distancing, and use remote meeting means as
much as feasible, risks the health of our legislators and their ability to complete their duties during the
Session. An infected legislator can spread the disease to others at the Session and from there to all
points in the state. Further, a citizen’s right to participate in government may be chilled if those desiring
to testify are provided no safe means for doing so.

Over these long months of the pandemic, we have learned how feasible it is to wear masks, socially
distance, and use remote means for meetings. We submit there is no viable reason for not assuring the
Montana Legislative Session provide the safest possible environment to enable the full participation of
all legislators and citizens.

Thank you for your consideration of our comments.

Sincerely,

Ross Miller, Chair