HCSHBs700&445--REFUSALOFMEDICALPROCEDURESORTREATMENT
(Hardwick)
COMMITTEEOFORIGIN:StandingCommitteeonEmergingIssues
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).