New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Senate Bill S454 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	SENATE, No. 454 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 221st LEGISLATURE PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
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3	3	SENATE, No. 454
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7	7	STATE OF NEW JERSEY
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9	9	221st LEGISLATURE
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13	13	PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
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17	17	Sponsored by: Senator JAMES W. HOLZAPFEL District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean) Co-Sponsored by: Senator Singer SYNOPSIS Prohibits discrimination against individuals who have not received COVID-19 vaccine. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
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21	21	Sponsored by:
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23	23	Senator JAMES W. HOLZAPFEL
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25	25	District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)
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29	29	Co-Sponsored by:
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31	31	Senator Singer
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41	41	SYNOPSIS
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43	43	Prohibits discrimination against individuals who have not received COVID-19 vaccine.
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47	47	CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
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49	49	Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
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53	53	An Act concerning COVID-19, immunizations, and discrimination and supplementing Title 10 of the Revised Statutes. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, or executive order to the contrary, it shall be unlawful to ask any individual if the individual has received a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, to require any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or to require any individual to show proof of having received a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of or as a prerequisite to: (1) the exercise of any privilege or right granted under State or federal law; (2) conducting any business or commerce; (3) travelling to, outside, or within the State; (4) obtaining or maintaining an internship, obtaining or maintaining employment, or receiving a promotion from an employer; (5) participation in any governmental or political activity; (6) admission or enrollment into any child or adult day care program; (7) admission to, enrollment in, or graduation from a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education; (8) participation in any activity, internship, opportunity, program, or sport offered by a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education; (9) receiving adequate dental care or health care; (10) maintaining, receiving, or renewing a professional certification or license; (11) obtaining or renewing membership in any professional organization; (12) entrance into or service from any place of business, including, but not limited to, any market, restaurant, or store; (13) entrance into and service from any public building, office, or structure; (14) entrance into and use of any public park or beach; or (15) admission into or service from any amusement park, concert venue, theater, or sporting event. b. It shall be unlawful to discriminate against or to take any adverse action against any individual who has not received a COVID-19 vaccine or who does not disclose whether the individual has received a COVID-19 vaccine. 2. An individual who violates the provisions of this act shall, in addition to any other relief authorized by law, be liable for civil damages to the victim in the amount of $25,000 in an action brought in the Superior Court in the county where the offense occurred. In addition to an award of civil damages, the court shall order the defendant to pay such attorney's fees or expenses, or both, that are actually and reasonably incurred by the victim who is the successful party in the action. 3. This act shall take effect immediately. STATEMENT This bill prohibits discrimination against individuals who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine. Under the bill, it is to be unlawful to ask any individual if the individual has received a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, to require any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or to require any individual to show proof of having received a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of or as a prerequisite to: (1) the exercise of any privilege or right granted under State or federal law; (2) conducting any business or commerce; (3) travelling to, outside, or within the State; (4) obtaining or maintaining an internship, obtaining or maintaining employment, or receiving a promotion from an employer; (5) participation in any governmental or political activity; (6) admission or enrollment into any child or adult day care program; (7) admission in, enrollment in, or graduation from a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education; (8) participation in any activity, internship, opportunity, program, or sport offered by a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education; (9) receiving adequate dental care or health care; (10) maintaining, receiving, or renewing a professional certification or license; (11) obtaining or renewing membership in any professional organization; (12) entrance into or service from any place of business, including, but not limited to, any market, restaurant, or store; (13) entrance into and service from any public building, office, or structure; (14) entrance into and use of any public park or beach; or (15) admission into or service from any amusement park, concert venue, theater, or sporting event. The bill provides that it is to be unlawful to discriminate against or to take any adverse action against any individual who has not received a COVID-19 vaccine or who does not disclose whether the individual has received a COVID-19 vaccine. An individual who violates the provisions of this bill is to, in addition to any other relief authorized by law, be liable for civil damages to the victim in the amount of $25,000 in an action brought in the Superior Court in the county where the offense occurred. In addition to an award of civil damages, the court is to order the defendant to pay such attorney's fees or expenses, or both, that are actually and reasonably incurred by the victim who is the successful party in the action.
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55	55	An Act concerning COVID-19, immunizations, and discrimination and supplementing Title 10 of the Revised Statutes.
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59	59	Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
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63	63	1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, or executive order to the contrary, it shall be unlawful to ask any individual if the individual has received a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, to require any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or to require any individual to show proof of having received a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of or as a prerequisite to:
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65	65	(1) the exercise of any privilege or right granted under State or federal law;
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67	67	(2) conducting any business or commerce;
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69	69	(3) travelling to, outside, or within the State;
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71	71	(4) obtaining or maintaining an internship, obtaining or maintaining employment, or receiving a promotion from an employer;
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73	73	(5) participation in any governmental or political activity;
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75	75	(6) admission or enrollment into any child or adult day care program;
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77	77	(7) admission to, enrollment in, or graduation from a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education;
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79	79	(8) participation in any activity, internship, opportunity, program, or sport offered by a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education;
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81	81	(9) receiving adequate dental care or health care;
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83	83	(10) maintaining, receiving, or renewing a professional certification or license;
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85	85	(11) obtaining or renewing membership in any professional organization;
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87	87	(12) entrance into or service from any place of business, including, but not limited to, any market, restaurant, or store;
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89	89	(13) entrance into and service from any public building, office, or structure;
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91	91	(14) entrance into and use of any public park or beach; or
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93	93	(15) admission into or service from any amusement park, concert venue, theater, or sporting event.
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95	95	b. It shall be unlawful to discriminate against or to take any adverse action against any individual who has not received a COVID-19 vaccine or who does not disclose whether the individual has received a COVID-19 vaccine.
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99	99	2. An individual who violates the provisions of this act shall, in addition to any other relief authorized by law, be liable for civil damages to the victim in the amount of $25,000 in an action brought in the Superior Court in the county where the offense occurred. In addition to an award of civil damages, the court shall order the defendant to pay such attorney's fees or expenses, or both, that are actually and reasonably incurred by the victim who is the successful party in the action.
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103	103	3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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109	109	STATEMENT
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113	113	This bill prohibits discrimination against individuals who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine.
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115	115	Under the bill, it is to be unlawful to ask any individual if the individual has received a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, to require any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, or to require any individual to show proof of having received a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of or as a prerequisite to:
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117	117	(1) the exercise of any privilege or right granted under State or federal law;
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119	119	(2) conducting any business or commerce;
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121	121	(3) travelling to, outside, or within the State;
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123	123	(4) obtaining or maintaining an internship, obtaining or maintaining employment, or receiving a promotion from an employer;
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125	125	(5) participation in any governmental or political activity;
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127	127	(6) admission or enrollment into any child or adult day care program;
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129	129	(7) admission in, enrollment in, or graduation from a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education;
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131	131	(8) participation in any activity, internship, opportunity, program, or sport offered by a preschool program, elementary or secondary school, college, university, or any other institution of education;
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133	133	(9) receiving adequate dental care or health care;
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135	135	(10) maintaining, receiving, or renewing a professional certification or license;
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137	137	(11) obtaining or renewing membership in any professional organization;
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139	139	(12) entrance into or service from any place of business, including, but not limited to, any market, restaurant, or store;
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141	141	(13) entrance into and service from any public building, office, or structure;
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143	143	(14) entrance into and use of any public park or beach; or
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145	145	(15) admission into or service from any amusement park, concert venue, theater, or sporting event.
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147	147	The bill provides that it is to be unlawful to discriminate against or to take any adverse action against any individual who has not received a COVID-19 vaccine or who does not disclose whether the individual has received a COVID-19 vaccine. An individual who violates the provisions of this bill is to, in addition to any other relief authorized by law, be liable for civil damages to the victim in the amount of $25,000 in an action brought in the Superior Court in the county where the offense occurred. In addition to an award of civil damages, the court is to order the defendant to pay such attorney's fees or expenses, or both, that are actually and reasonably incurred by the victim who is the successful party in the action.