HCSHBs700&445--REFUSALOFMEDICALPROCEDURESORTREATMENT
SPONSOR: Hardwick
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonEmergingIssuesbyavoteof9to4,with1present.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
700.
Nopublicschooldistrictorpubliccharterschoolreceivingpublic
fundsshallrequireforastudent,asaconditionofenrollment,
attendanceofeventoractivity,oranyotherreason,to:
(1)ReceiveaCOVID-19vaccination;
(2)Receiveadoseofmessengerribonucleicacid;
(3)Receiveanytreatmentorprocedureintendedordesignedto
editoralterhumandeoxyribonucleic acidorthehumangenome;or
(4)Haveplacedunderthestudent'sskinanymechanicalor
electronicdevice.
Nopublicbody,politicalsubdivision,publicschooldistrict,
statedepartmentoragency,judgeorjudicialofficer,public
official,peaceofficer,orpersonappointedbytheGovernoracting
inanofficialcapacityshallrequireanypersonto:
(1)ReceiveaCOVID-19vaccination;
(2)Receiveadoseofmessengerribonucleicacid;
(3)Receiveanytreatmentorprocedureintendedordesignedto
editoralterhumandeoxyribonucleic acidorthehumangenome;or
(4)Haveplacedundertheperson'sskinanymechanicalor
electronicdevice;
Orimposeanyfine,tax,orcriminalorcivilpenaltybasedupona
person'sdecisiontoreceiveanyoftheabove.
TheprovisionsofthissectionrelatingtoCOVID-19vaccination
shallnotapplytoanystudenttraininginahealthcarefield
receivingclinicalhoursatafacilityasdescribedinthebilland
publiccollegesoruniversitiesthatrequireCOVID-19vaccination
foremployeesorselectstudentparticipantstoreceivefederal funds.Additionally,theprovisionsofthissectionshallnot
applytocertainfacilities,entities,andindividualsdescribedin
thebill(Section191.230,RSMo).
Employeesshallbeexemptfromanyemployerrequirement,and
studentsfromapubliccollegeoruniversityrequirement,to
receivemedicaltreatment,asdefinedinthebill,asacondition
ofemploymentorparticipationinasponsoredactivityifthe
employeeorstudentsubmitsarequestinwritingthatstates:
(1)Theemployeeorstudentholdsasincerelyheldreligious
belief,whichmayincludeanydeeplyheldnontheisticmoralbelief,
thatforbidstheemployeefromreceivingthemedicaltreatmentand
reasonableaccommodationwouldnotposeanunduehardship;or
(2)Theemployeeorstudenthasreceivedwrittenrecommendation
fromaphysicianadvisingtheemployeenottoreceivetherequired
medicaltreatment.
Acourtmaygrantanypersonwhoserightsareviolatedbythis
sectionrelief,includinginjunctiverelief,andreasonable
attorney'sfees(Section292.648).
ThisbillissimilartoSB169(2023)andHCSHB1686(2022).
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisbillprotectsindividuals
fromgovernmentmandatedvaccinationrequirements. Thisbill
furthersthefundamentalrightstopersonandprivacyofthe
individual. Thisbillprotectstheimportantrighttobodily
autonomy. Thisbillistimelyasmanyemployersarestillimposing
restrictionsandmandatestoday.Thisbillbalancestheability
forprivateemployerstomandatecertainpracticesandthe
individualrightsofemployees.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Hardwick;and
ChristinePorter.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythatthisbillwillhave
littleeffectinpractice,butwillhaveasubstantialimpactona
privateemployer'srightsandabilitytooperatetheirbusinessas
theyseefit.Itisappropriatetoleteachbusinessdecidetheir
ownworkplacepolicies,nottohavegovernmentintervention. Itis
nottheroleofgovernmenttotellbusinesseshowtooperate. This
billcreatesanewcauseofactionagainstsmallbusinessesand
subjectsthemtogreaterliability. Thisbillmaybeindirect conflictwithfederalmandates,andputbusinessesinadifficult
positionofhavingrequirementsfromtwodifferentgovernments.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereMissouriRetailers
Association;MissouriGrocersAssociation;MissouriTireIndustry
Association;AmericanCancerSocietyCancerActionNetwork;
AssociatedIndustriesofMissouri;MissouriChamberofCommerceand
Industry;MoHealthCareAssn.;MissouriHospitalAssociation;and
GreaterKansasCityChamberofCommerce.
OTHERS:Otherstestifyingonthebillallegethatthereare
currentlynofullyapprovedFDAvaccinesavailableintheUnited
States.Further,otherstestifyingonthebillobservethe
governmentisattimesinconsistentwhenitenactspolicyrelating
toprotectionofindividuals.
TestifyinginpersononthebillwereKrisShilt;andJennifer
Barker.
ThisbillissimilartoSB169(2023).
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.