Relating to the medical privacy and freedom Act, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to the prohibited required disclosure of, and discrimination based on, a person’s medical treatment status or the furnishing of an immunity passport. The bill amends Code chapter 27C (proof of vaccination for COVID-19). The bill strikes current provisions prohibiting the required furnishing of proof of a vaccination for COVID-19 and the prohibition against the awarding or renewal of grants or contracts funded by state revenue to a business or governmental entity that violates this provision. The bill instead amends the Code chapter to include prohibitions relating to a person’s medical treatment status including vaccination status or the furnishing of an immunity passport. The bill provides that notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a business, educational institution, employer, or governmental entity shall not: inquire into the medical treatment status of, maintain a record including an existing record of the medical treatment status of, or require the furnishing of an immunity passport by, a person; refuse, withhold from, or deny to a person any services, goods, facilities, advantages, privileges, access, transportation or freedom of movement, licensing, educational opportunities, or health care access based on a person’s medical treatment status or the furnishing of an immunity passport; provide or disallow incentives such as coupons, free goods or services, or lotteries and games of chance, or impose a monetary fine or tax or other socioeconomic disincentive based on a person’s medical treatment status or the furnishing of an immunity passport; refuse to hire or employ, bar or discharge from employment, impose a surcharge or wage reduction, or discriminate against a person in compensation or in a term, condition, or privilege of employment based on the person’s medical treatment status or the furnishing of an immunity passport; or exclude, limit, segregate, refuse to serve, require a mask or other facial covering, require testing, or otherwise discriminate against a person based on the person’s medical treatment status or the furnishing of an immunity passport. The bill requires each appropriate state agency to ensure that a business in this state complies with the provisions of the bill and requires compliance with the provisions of the bill as a condition of obtaining a license, permit, or other state authorization as necessary to conduct business in this state. A business, educational institution, employer, or governmental entity that violates the provisions of the bill is liable for any adverse reaction, injury, disability, or death that is or may be related to a person receiving forced medical treatment in response to such violation. For purposes of a person who is an employee, it shall be presumed, in the absence of any substantial evidence to the contrary, that such adverse reaction, injury, disability, or death arose in the course of the person’s employment. The bill includes a directive to the Code editor to amend the title of Code chapter 27C to be titled the medical privacy and freedom Act.12. The bill takes effect upon enactment.