Dear Friends,
It’s a great day to live in the Free State of Florida! As of this writing, we have just concluded the 2021 Special Session to combat the federal government’s unconstitutional vaccine mandates and it is a pleasure to bring you a brief report on all that we accomplished.
In October, Governor Ron DeSantis called for a special session to provide protections for Floridians who have lost their jobs or are having their employment threatened due to vaccine mandates. In response to that call, the Florida Legislature promptly drafted four bills for consideration. All four have passed through the legislature and were signed by the Governor in Brandon, FL with legislative leaders by his side.
House Bill 1B prohibits private-sector employers from requiring COVID-19 vaccine mandates for their employees unless the provide the following opt-outs. Medical reasons, as determined by a physician, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, or Physician Assistant. Medical reasons include pregnancy or the anticipation of pregnancy. Also, any sincerely held religious beliefs, prior COVID-19 infection as determined by a lab test, periodic testing at no cost to the employee or personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by the employer. The Department of Health has been directed to adopt rules to implement these exemptions. Any business, with less than 100 employees, found in violation of this law, can be fined up to $10,000 per violation and business with more than 100 employees can be charged $50,000 per violation. There is a complete prohibition on public educational institutions and government entities from requiring employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Violations include a fine not to exceed $5,000.
Additionally, This bill prohibits K-12 public schools from imposing student mask and vaccine mandates and would also prohibit the quarantining of students and teachers unless they become symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19.
Accompanying this legislation, House Bill 3B, protects employee’s private religious and medical information when filing a complaint against employers who violate the provisions in House Bill 1B.
House Bill 5B takes the first step toward developing a proposal to withdraw from OSHA and assert state jurisdiction over occupational safety and health issues. Withdrawing from OSHA would remove the ability for the Biden Administration to continue with its reckless overreach in to state affairs.
Finally, House Bill 7B, removes the authority for the State Health Officer to require vaccinations during a public health emergency. This never-before-used provision contained some very troubling language that would allow the Surgeon General to force vaccinations “by any means necessary”. No one person in our state should have that kind of authority. Removing this part of current law will ensure Floridians, now and in the future, have the freedom to make personal health care decisions.
Individual rights and liberties are worth protecting and we are standing with Floridians and their families to protect them from unlawful attempts by the federal government to force one-size-fits-all COVID mandates. Thank you for sending me to Tallahassee to be your voice as we fight to protect faith, family, freedom, opportunity and life itself.
Onward & Upward,
Senator Dennis Baxley
