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House of Assembly June 5, 2020

Summary Offences Amendment Act

Passed
Chamber House of Assembly
Date Jun 5, 2020
Result Passed
Simplified for You

What this bill does

This bill gives the Governor broader powers to impose curfews in Bermuda. It extends curfews from 3 days to 7 days, allows them at any time of day (not just nighttime), and permits curfews for both public safety and public health emergencies like disease outbreaks.

If Passed (Voted Yes)
The Governor can order week-long curfews that keep people out of public places during specified hours, including daytime hours
Curfews can be imposed for health emergencies (like pandemics) in addition to safety emergencies
The Health Minister can formally request the Governor to impose a curfew when there's a communicable disease outbreak or risk
If Rejected (Voted No)
Curfew powers remain limited to 3 days maximum and only during nighttime hours (5:30 PM to 6:00 AM)
Curfews can only be imposed for public safety reasons, not health emergencies
The current more restrictive curfew system stays in place

Who It Affects

This affects all Bermuda residents and visitors, as anyone could be subject to curfew restrictions during emergencies. It particularly impacts people whose work, medical needs, or personal circumstances might require them to be in public during curfew hours.
Vote counts are not published. The Bermuda Parliament does not publicly record individual vote counts or how each member voted.
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Related Bill

Summary Offences Amendment Act 2019/2020 · Passed
Download bill PDF