Bill Text: TX HB4841 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the prohibition on COVID-19 restrictions, with exceptions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-23 - Referred to State Affairs [HB4841 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB4841-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Hunter H.B. No. 4841
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the prohibition on COVID-19 restrictions, with
  exceptions.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 161.0015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 161.0015.  PROHIBITED COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES.  (a)  
  This state, a state agency, or a political subdivision of this
  state, including a public school district, an open-enrollment
  charter school, or a public health authority may not implement,
  order, or otherwise impose a mandate requiring an individual to be
  vaccinated against COVID-19.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a facility owned or
  operated by this state, a state agency, or a political subdivision
  of this state that is subject to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
  Services vaccine requirement contained in 86 Fed. Reg. 61555 (2021)
  may require an employee or an applicant for employment to provide
  documentation certifying the employee's or applicant's COVID-19
  vaccination.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter H, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 184.196, Section 184.197, and Section
  184.198 to read as follows:
         Sec. 418.196.  BAN ON COVID-19-RELATED BUSINESS CLOSURES OR
  LIMITATIONS. This state, a state agency, a public health
  authority, or the governing body of a political subdivision or its
  presiding officer shall not issue an order, enact an ordinance, or
  take any other action having the force and effect of law that would
  limit or prohibit any business activity or services in response to
  the COVID-19 pandemic.
         Sec. 418.197.  BAN ON COVID-19-RELATED SCHOOL CLOSURES OR
  LIMITATIONS. This state, a state agency, a public school district,
  an open-enrollment charter school, a public health authority, or
  the governing body of a political subdivision or its presiding
  officer may not issue an order, enact an ordinance, or take any
  other action having the force and effect of law that would limit or
  prohibit any school activity or service in response to the COVID-19
  pandemic.
         Sec. 418.198.  LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY OF GOVERNMENTAL
  ENTITY TO MANDATE CERTAIN FACE COVERINGS. (a)  In this section,
  "governmental entity" means:
               (1)  this state or a state agency;
               (2)  a municipality, a county, a public school
  district, open-enrollment charter school, a public health
  authority, or other political subdivision of this state; and
               (3)  an officer or employee of a political subdivision
  of this state.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, and except as provided by
  Subsection (c), a governmental entity may not adopt or enforce an
  ordinance, order, or other measure that requires an individual to
  wear a face covering in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
         (c)  The limitation prescribed by Subsection (b) does not
  apply to:
               (1)  a state supported living center, as defined by
  Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code, that is complying with
  directives given by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission;
               (2)  a hospital that is owned by a governmental entity
  that is complying with directives established by the governmental
  entity that owns the hospital; or
               (3)  a municipal jail, a county jail, or a facility
  operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the Texas
  Juvenile Justice Department that is complying with directives
  established by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
         SECTION 3.  If any provision of this Act or its application
  to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does
  not affect other provisions or applications of this Act that can be
  given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to
  this end the provisions of this Act are declared to be severable.
         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 September 1, 2023.
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