Suffolk County Legislature Tables Bill To Mandate HIV Testing in County Jails

The Health, Education and Youth Committee of the Suffolk County, N.Y., Legislature on Wednesday tabled a measure that would require people charged with prostitution or soliciting a prostitute to undergo HIV and hepatitis C testing while in jail, the Long Island Newsday reports. Presiding Officer Legislator Maxine Postal (D), who sponsored the measure, said that the first step in stopping the spread of the diseases in the area is to identify those with the disease. However, acting Health Department Commissioner Linda Murmelstein said that "until it's clear that mandatory testing is protecting the general public," lawmakers should refrain from pushing such legislation. Postal, who said that she expected some controversy regarding the constitutionality of the measure, said that "in the interest of public health it's something we should be doing" (Burgher, Long Island Newsday, 2/6).