5-45-1. Statement of Purpose and Intent.

1. It is the purpose of these Public Health Crimes to address situations that have come up during the COVID-19 Pandemic so that our tribal members, non-member residents and the public continue to treat this existential threat to our people seriously. We desire to protect the public in this current pandemic and future situations as they arise.
2. It is our intent that these laws be construed broadly so as to protect the public to the fullest extent possible. We note that most of these enumerated crimes are classified as Class A Offenses to reflect the seriousness of these offenses. We encourage prosecutorial discretion when considering the charges below as we aim to balance the offense with the need for the public safety.
3. It is our intent that these laws not refer to the common cold, but rather diseases and viruses that are more serious in nature.