Bill Text: TX SB64 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 1st Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to protecting the bodily autonomy of individuals with respect to exemptions from required immunizations or vaccinations in the workplace.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-07-09 - Filed [SB64 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB64-Introduced.html
| By: Hall | S.B. No. 64 | |
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| relating to protecting the bodily autonomy of individuals with | ||
| respect to exemptions from required immunizations or vaccinations | ||
| in the workplace. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. The legislature finds that: | ||
| (1) a fundamental purpose of our government is protect | ||
| the rights and liberties of individuals, and among these rights and | ||
| liberties is bodily autonomy; | ||
| (2) the experimental nature of the mRNA COVID-19 | ||
| vaccines creates legitimate reasons for a desire to be exempt from a | ||
| vaccination requirement in one's workplace; | ||
| (3) there are employees in Texas who may be required to | ||
| obtain certain vaccinations as a term or condition of their | ||
| employment, and who may wish not to receive these vaccinations due | ||
| to medical concerns or personal beliefs; | ||
| SECTION 2. Chapter 21, Labor Code, is amended by adding | ||
| Subchapter H-1 to read as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER H-1. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON EXEMPTION FROM REQUIRED | ||
| IMMUNIZATION OR VACCINATION | ||
| Sec. 21.421. EXEMPTION FROM REQUIRED IMMUNIZATION OR | ||
| VACCINATION. An employer, labor organization, or employment agency | ||
| shall allow an individual to claim an exemption from a required | ||
| immunization or vaccination based on a medical condition or reasons | ||
| of conscience, including a religious belief. | ||
| Sec. 21.422. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON EXEMPTION | ||
| FROM REQUIRED IMMUNIZATION OR VACCINATION. (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 | ||
| claims an exemption described by Section 21.421. | ||
| (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 claims an exemption described by Section | ||
| 21.421. | ||
| (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 claims | ||
| an exemption described by Section 21.421. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 224.002(c), Health and Safety Code, is | ||
| amended to read as follows: | ||
| (c) The policy must [ |
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| individual to be exempt from the required vaccines based on reasons | ||
| of conscience, including a religious belief. | ||
| 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 on the 91st day after the | ||
| last day of the legislative session. | ||
