Senate File 555 - Introduced SENATE FILE 555 BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES (SUCCESSOR TO SF 193) A BILL FOR An Act relating to requirements and prohibitions relating to 1 vaccines and immunizations, and providing civil remedies. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1343SV (3) 89 pf/rh

S.F. 555 DIVISION I 1 PROHIBITION OF COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES BY EMPLOYERS 2 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 94.1 Definitions. 3 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise 4 requires: 5 1. “Applicant” means a natural person who applies to be an 6 employee. 7 2. “COVID-19” means the novel coronavirus identified 8 as SARS-CoV-2, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus 9 SARS-CoV-2 or a virus mutating therefrom, and conditions 10 associated with the disease caused by the novel coronavirus 11 SARS-CoV-2 or a virus mutating therefrom. 12 3. “Employee” means a natural person who is employed in this 13 state for wages by an employer. 14 4. “Employer” means a person, as defined in chapter 4, who 15 in this state employs for wages, natural persons. 16 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 94.2 COVID-19 Vaccination requirements 17 or history —— prohibited acts by employer. 18 An employer shall not fail or refuse to hire, discharge, 19 penalize, or otherwise discriminate against an employee with 20 respect to compensation or the terms, conditions, or privileges 21 of employment based on either of the following: 22 1. The employee’s COVID-19 vaccination history. 23 2. The refusal of the employee to receive a COVID-19 vaccine 24 or provide proof of immunity. 25 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 94.3 Civil remedies. 26 An employee whose rights are violated under this chapter may 27 bring an action against an employer in the district court in 28 the county where the employer is located for injunctive relief, 29 actual damages, admission or reinstatement of the employee with 30 back pay plus ten percent interest, or any other appropriate 31 relief necessary to ensure compliance with this chapter. 32 DIVISION II 33 PROHIBITING THE CONNECTION OF VACCINATION OR IMMUNITY STATUS TO 34 A STATE-ISSUED DRIVER’S LICENSE OR NONOPERATOR’S IDENTIFICATION 35 -1- LSB 1343SV (3) 89 pf/rh 1/ 3

S.F. 555 CARD 1 Sec. 4. Section 321.189, subsection 2, Code 2021, is amended 2 by adding the following new paragraph: 3 NEW PARAGRAPH . e. A driver’s license shall not include the 4 vaccination or immunization status, immunity status, or test 5 results relating to a communicable disease of the holder of any 6 class of driver’s license. 7 Sec. 5. Section 321.190, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 8 2021, is amended to read as follows: 9 a. The department shall, upon application and payment 10 of the required fee, issue to an applicant a nonoperator’s 11 identification card. To be valid the card shall bear a 12 distinguishing number other than a social security number 13 assigned to the cardholder, the full name, date of birth, 14 sex, residence address, a physical description and a color 15 photograph of the cardholder, the usual signature of the 16 cardholder, and such other information as the department 17 may require by rule. An applicant for a nonoperator’s 18 identification card shall apply for the card in the manner 19 provided in section 321.182, subsections 1 through 3 . The card 20 shall be issued to the applicant at the time of application 21 pursuant to procedures established by rule. An applicant for a 22 nonoperator’s identification card who is required by 50 U.S.C. 23 app. §451 et seq. to register with the United States selective 24 service system shall be registered by the department with the 25 selective service system as provided in section 321.183 . An 26 applicant for a nonoperator’s identification card shall not 27 be required to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in order to be 28 issued a card and the card shall not include the vaccination or 29 immunization status, immunity status, or test results relating 30 to a communicable disease of the holder of the card. 31 EXPLANATION 32 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 33 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 34 This bill relates to vaccinations and immunizations. The 35 -2- LSB 1343SV (3) 89 pf/rh 2/ 3

S.F. 555 bill is drafted in divisions. 1 DIVISION I. Division I relates to prohibitions against 2 COVID-19 vaccine mandates by employers. Division I prohibits 3 an employer from failing or refusing to hire, discharge, 4 penalize, or otherwise discriminate against an employee with 5 respect to compensation or the terms, conditions, or privileges 6 of employment based on the employee’s COVID-19 vaccination 7 history or the refusal of the employee to receive a COVID-19 8 vaccine or provide proof of immunity. An employee whose rights 9 are violated under the division may bring an action against an 10 employer in the district court in the county where the employer 11 is located for injunctive relief, actual damages, admission or 12 reinstatement of the employee with back pay plus 10 percent 13 interest, or any other appropriate relief necessary to ensure 14 compliance with the division of the bill. 15 DIVISION II. Division II relates to prohibiting the 16 connection of a person’s vaccination or immunity status 17 to a state-issued driver’s license or nonoperator’s 18 identification card. Division II prohibits a driver’s license 19 or a nonoperator’s identification card from including the 20 vaccination or immunization status, immunity status, or test 21 results relating to a communicable disease of the holder of any 22 class of driver’s license or a nonoperator’s identification 23 card and provides that an applicant for a nonoperator’s 24 identification card shall not be required to receive the 25 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to be issued a card. 26 -3- LSB 1343SV (3) 89 pf/rh 3/ 3