By Paulina Pineda | Arizona Republic
An Arizona lawmaker wants to make it optional for businesses to enforce mask mandates, although numerous business groups supported Maricopa County’s mask requirement.
Rep. Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, introduced House Bill 2770, telling a Tucson talk radio host that it would give businesses a choice and protect people’s “freedom and liberties.”
Robin Reed, CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona, said COVID-19 cases have climbed when the state eased off mitigation efforts. He worried making masks optional could have the same effect.
Reed told The Arizona Republic that state leaders should study the impact of proposals before introducing bills.
“We can’t be flippant with these types of bills,” he said. “We owe our citizens to research what would happen if these mask mandates weren’t in place.”
A public health expert said making masks optional could lead Arizona’s COVID-19 metrics to slide just as they are improving.
Arizona Rep. Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, introduced a bill that would let businesses ignore local and state mask mandates.
Chaplik’s one-sentence bill will be heard at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the House Commerce Committee.
