By: Toth H.B. No. 18
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to protecting the medical freedom and bodily autonomy of
  employees with respect to immunization or vaccination status.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that:
               (1)  the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and
  corresponding vaccines utilizing new mRNA technology has brought
  the question of personal bodily autonomy to the forefront of our
  national and state dialogue;
               (2)  the recently implemented COVID-19 passport
  protections extend only to patrons of businesses and not employees;
               (3)  the arguments in defense of customers'
  right-of-access to establishments, goods, and services accompanied
  by a freedom to move about unhindered may also be applied to
  protecting an individual from being made to choose between
  continued employment or taking a vaccine which gives them concerns
  due to medical reasons or reasons of conscience;
               (4)  a primary role of our government is to protect
  individual liberties, among which medical freedom and bodily
  autonomy are certainly numbered;
               (5)  employers are not otherwise prevented in Texas
  statute from implementing safety precautions for their employees
  and customers apart from immunizations or vaccinations;
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 21, Labor Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter H-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER H-1. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON IMMUNIZATION OR
  VACCINATION STATUS
         Sec. 21.421.  PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON
  IMMUNIZATION OR VACCINATION STATUS. (a) An employer commits an
  unlawful employment practice if the employer fails or refuses to
  hire, discharges, or otherwise discriminates against an individual
  with respect to the compensation or the terms, conditions, or
  privileges of employment because the individual has not received an
  immunization or vaccine.
         (b)  A labor organization commits an unlawful employment
  practice if the labor organization excludes or expels from
  membership or otherwise discriminates against an individual
  because the individual has not received an immunization or vaccine.
         (c)  An employment agency commits an unlawful employment
  practice if the employment agency classifies or refers for
  employment, fails or refuses to refer for employment, or otherwise
  discriminates against an individual because the individual has not
  received an immunization or vaccine.
         SECTION 2.  The following provisions are repealed:
               (1)  Chapter 224, Health and Safety Code; and
               (2)  Section 42.04305, Human Resources Code.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an unlawful employment practice that occurs on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
  legislative session.