Texas 2021 - 87th 2nd C.S.

Texas Senate Bill SB24 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87S20139 KKR-D
2	2	By: Hall, Paxton S.B. No. 24
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to prohibited vaccination status discrimination and
8	8	requirements for certain vaccination policies.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Section 161.0085, Health and Safety Code, as
11	11	added by S.B. No. 968, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular
12	12	Session, 2021, is amended by adding Subsection (b-1) and amending
13	13	Subsection (e) to read as follows:
14	14	(b-1) A governmental entity in this state may not require an
15	15	individual to provide any documentation certifying the
16	16	individual's COVID-19 vaccination or post-transmission recovery on
17	17	entry to, to gain access to, or to receive service from the
18	18	governmental entity.
19	19	(e) This section may not be construed to:
20	20	(1) restrict a business or governmental entity from
21	21	implementing COVID-19 screening and infection control protocols in
22	22	accordance with state and federal law to protect public health; or
23	23	(2) interfere with an individual's right to access the
24	24	individual's personal health information under federal law.
25	25	SECTION 2. Section 224.002(c), Health and Safety Code, is
26	26	amended to read as follows:
27	27	(c) The policy must [may] include procedures for a covered
28	28	individual to be exempt from the required vaccines based on reasons
29	29	of conscience, including a religious belief.
30	30	SECTION 3. Chapter 21, Labor Code, is amended by adding
31	31	Subchapter H-1 to read as follows:
32	32	SUBCHAPTER H-1. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON IMMUNIZATION OR
33	33	VACCINATION STATUS
34	34	Sec. 21.421. PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON
35	35	IMMUNIZATION OR VACCINATION STATUS. (a) An employer commits an
36	36	unlawful employment practice if the employer fails or refuses to
37	37	hire, discharges, or otherwise discriminates against an individual
38	38	with respect to the compensation or the terms, conditions, or
39	39	privileges of employment because the individual has not received an
40	40	immunization or vaccine.
41	41	(b) A labor organization commits an unlawful employment
42	42	practice if the labor organization excludes or expels from
43	43	membership or otherwise discriminates against an individual
44	44	because the individual has not received an immunization or vaccine.
45	45	(c) An employment agency commits an unlawful employment
46	46	practice if the employment agency classifies or refers for
47	47	employment, fails or refuses to refer for employment, or otherwise
48	48	discriminates against an individual because the individual has not
49	49	received an immunization or vaccine.
50	50	SECTION 4. Subchapter H-1, Chapter 21, Labor Code, as added
51	51	by this Act, applies only to an unlawful employment practice that
52	52	occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.
53	53	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
54	54	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
55	55	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
56	56	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
57	57	Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
58	58	legislative session.