Wisconsin senate approves HIV bill

The Wisconsin senate voted 30-3 for a bill that would add teachers, school district employees, and social workers to a list of medical and emergency workers who can demand HIV antibody tests be conducted on any blood they come in contact with, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The state's law already covers firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, health care professionals, and prison guards. Supporters of the measure say that workers in the educational field have the right to know if they've been exposed to blood that is infected with HIV so that they can immediately begin a short course of antiretroviral drugs to ward off infection. "This is a right-to-know bill," said Sen. Carol Roessler, a Republican who voted in favor of the measure. Opponents said the bill could be used disproportionately against minority students. The bill now goes to the state assembly, where it is expected to be approved.