By: Slaton H.B. No. 33
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a prohibition on certain companies and hospitals from
requiring employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination; creating a
criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 24 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 24. CERTAIN EMPLOYER-REQUIRED VACCINATIONS PROHIBITED
Sec. 24.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Company" has the meaning assigned by Section
808.001, Government Code.
(2) "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus
disease.
(3) "Hospital" means a health facility that is
licensed under Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code.
(4) "License" means a license, certificate,
registration, permit, or other authorization that:
(A) is issued by a state agency or political
subdivision; and
(B) a company must obtain to engage in a
particular business or occupation.
(5) "Political subdivision" means a county,
municipality, school district, special purpose district, or other
subdivision of state government that has jurisdiction limited to a
geographic portion of the state.
(6) "State agency" has the meaning assigned by Section
609.001, Government Code.
Sec. 24.002. OFFENSE; PENALTIES. (a) A company or hospital
commits an offense if the company or hospital requires, as a
condition of employment, an employee to receive a COVID-19
vaccination.
(b) Each employee required to receive a vaccination is a
separate offense under Subsection (a).
(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a company that is
convicted of an offense under this section is not eligible to hold a
license until the fifth anniversary of the date of the conviction.
A state agency or political subdivision shall revoke a license
issued to a company that is ineligible to hold the license under
this subsection.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
last day of the legislative session.