The governor already has the power to declare a health emergency, and critics of this bill say that it gives too much power to a state official who is not elected.

If the bill is made into law, the director would be allowed to require screening, testing, contact tracing, quarantine, and isolation of people deemed by the department to be infected, at higher risk of infection, or at risk of spreading infection. The measure now heads to the House.

Monday, the Hawaii Senate voted 20-4 in favor of the controversial House Bill 2502 that would give more power to the director of the State Department of Health (DOH).

The measure would allow the health director to declare a public health emergency if authorized by the governor.

Under an emergency, the director would be allowed to require screening, testing, contact tracing, quarantine, and isolation of people deemed by the department to be infected, at higher risk of infection, or at risk of spreading infection.