Good Samaritan bill tabled in Karna Assembly

: A bill to provide protection for good Samaritans and medical professionals from civil and criminal liabilities by supporting legal environment and sufficient resources during an emergency situation was introduced in the Karnataka Assembly today.
The 'Karnataka Good Samaritan and Medical Professional (Protection and Regulation During Emergency Situations) Bill, 2016' said incidents of accidental deaths were rising globally and persons on the spot at the time of the accident can play a crucial role in taking the victim to the nearest hospital.
Noting the likely harassment arising from police or legal proceedings, it said onlookers hesitate to assist or render immediate help to victims and stressed on the need to build confidence among the public.

The bill also spells out the obligations of hospitals and clinics and for matters connected therewith to ensure that there is no wastage of time in providing medical treatment and to save patient's life.
There will be an approximate expenditure of Rs five crore per annum by the proposed legislative measure.
Among other bills tabled were The Karnataka Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to amend the Act of 1965 to remove the term "unfermented juice" from the definition of "Toddy" and to distinguish "Neera" from "Toddy", to define term "Neera", regulating tapping of Neera and manufacture of Neera products, and provide punishment for violation of provisions of sections and rules made thereunder.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his 2015-16 budget speech had proposed bringing an amendment to the Excise act and to permit members of the Coconut Growers Federation to harvest Neera in limited quantities from coconut trees.

Neera products are legally permitted in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Goa, among others.
Also tabled was The Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to amend the Act of 1961 to provide for an for an agriculture labourer to be entitled for registration as owner in respect of a dwelling house built on land not belonging to him immediately prior to January 1 1979 by vesting such land in government on the date of commencement of the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 2016.

There is no extra expenditure involved in both of these proposed legislative measures.