If you've got brown skin in Arizona, don't get injured or sick.

...Last week, in their war on brown people, the nativists in the AZ lege opened up a new front, targeting children.  Now, they're going after the sick and injured...

During the 17th, 18th, and even 19th centuries, when the British Navy ran short on recruits to man their ships, they would send out "press gangs" to scoop up the able-bodied but unwary off the streets and even off of merchant ships to meet their quota of new "recruits."

Well, the nativists of Arizona are following the British practice, only instead of having press gangs roam the streets, countryside, and decks of private ships, they have the Arizona Legislature at their disposal.

Their latest effort to drag unwilling participants into their war on brown people is SB1405 -

36-415. Hospital admissions; proof of citizenship, legal residence or lawful presence; immunity

A. Before a hospital admits a person for nonemergency care, a hospital admissions officer must confirm that the person is a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of the United States or lawfully present in the United States. The admissions officer may use any method prescribed in section 1-501 to verify citizenship or legal status.

B. If the admissions officer determines that the person does not meet the requirements of subsection A of this section, the admissions officer must contact the local federal immigration office.

C. If the hospital provides emergency medical care pursuant to federal requirements to a person who does not meet the requirements of subsection A of this section, on successful treatment of the patient the admissions officer must contact the local federal immigration office.

D. A hospital that complies with the requirements of this section is not subject to civil liability.

Jennifer Bonnett, Executive Director of the Arizona Public Health Association (AZPHA), says that the AZPHA doesn't have a position on this particular bill as yet, but noted that they have a "longstanding tradition" of opposition to measures that raise barriers to health care.

I've also got a call out to the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association seeking comment.  The bill is new enough that they don't have one yet, but promised to look at the measure and get back to me shortly.


Later...