HB278 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ritchie Whorton Representative

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Tommy Hanes

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Health, immunizations, exemptions from mandatory immunization based on religious beliefs and medical conditions, Sec. 11-47-132 repealed

Description

Under existing law, municipalities have the power to adopt and enforce ordinances to compel vaccinations in order to prevent the introduction or spread of contagious, infectious, or pestilential diseases.

This bill would repeal existing law authorizing municipalities to adopt and enforce ordinances to compel vaccinations in order to prevent the introduction or spread of contagious, infectious, or pestilential diseases.

This bill would provide that if a specific immunization is ever required by law, exemptions from the mandatory immunization shall be provided for individuals who oppose immunization based on religious beliefs or otherwise sincerely held personal beliefs, as well as for those with certain medical conditions.

This bill would provide that if a person holding a power of attorney or acting as the next of kin for an elderly person housed in a nursing home or hospice, or holding a power of attorney or acting as a guardian or next of kin for a mentally or intellectually disabled individual, attests that the individual should not be immunized because of the caregiver's bona fide religious beliefs or otherwise sincerely held personal beliefs that are contrary to any required immunization, that individual shall be exempt from those requirements.

This bill would prohibit an employer from taking adverse action against an employee based on the employee's immunization status.

This bill would prohibit an occupational licensing board from denying, suspending, revoking, or refusing to renew or reinstate a license for the holder of, or applicant for, a license issued by that board because of the immunization status of that license holder or applicant.

This bill would also prohibit a place of public accommodation or a facility operated or maintained by a government entity from refusing entry, where otherwise permitted, to an individual based on that individual's immunization status.

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Subjects

Health