Relating to the Iowa medical freedom Act, including limitations on requiring medical interventions by businesses, governmental entities, and educational institutions, modifying state authority during public health disasters, and including effective date provisions

A “medical intervention” is defined as a health care procedure, treatment, device, drug injection, medication, biologic, or action taken to diagnose, prevent, maintain, or treat the health or biological function of a person. The bill prohibits a business from refusing to provide a person a service, product, admission to a venue, or transportation based on whether the person has received a medical intervention. A business is also prohibited from requiring medical intervention as a term of employment, unless the business provides the employee notice as described in the bill. The bill prohibits a business from imposing a surcharge or wage reduction, or from discriminating against a person in compensation or in term, condition, or privilege or employment based on the employee’s willingness to receive a medical intervention. The bill prohibits a ticket issuer from penalizing, discriminating against, or denying a person access to an entertainment or public event based on whether the person has received a medical intervention. The bill prohibits an educational institution from mandating a medical intervention for any person to attend, enter, or be employed by the educational institution, unless the educational institution provides an employee with notice as described in the bill. The bill prohibits a governmental entity from requiring any person to receive a medical intervention. A governmental entity may require an employee to receive a medical intervention if the governmental entity provides notice to the employee as described in the bill. The bill prohibits a business, educational institution, or governmental entity from providing any different ongoing compensation, treatment, or benefits to an employee based on whether the employee has received a medical intervention. A business, educational institution, or governmental entity may offer a one-time incentive related to medical interventions that do not result in any different ongoing compensation or benefits being provided to an employee based on whether the employee receives a medical intervention. The bill prohibits a healthy person from being excluded from a public or private activity based on whether the person has received a medical intervention. The bill provides that a business, educational institution, or governmental entity may require personal protective equipment as part of occupational safety standards if certain requirements are met. The bill prohibits a person from being compelled to wear personal protective equipment for a purpose authorized solely by emergency use authorization under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The attorney general or the county attorney for the county where an alleged violation occurs may institute a civil action to enforce this bill. If a court determines a violation of this bill has occurred, the attorney general or the county attorney is awarded attorney fees and costs incurred in pursuing the action. The bill requires each appropriate state agency to ensure that a business, ticket issuer, educational institution, or government entity complies with this bill as a condition of obtaining a license, permit, or other state authorization as necessary to conduct business in Iowa. The bill shall not be construed to prohibit compliance with child welfare laws. The bill applies at all times and will not be suspended, nullified, or otherwise disregarded during any declared emergency, public health crisis, or state of emergency issued by any local, state, or federal agency.144, subsections and (public health disaster authority to order physical examinations and vaccinate against infectious diseases). The bill also strikes the department of health and human services’ (HHS) authority to treat individuals in the event of a public health disaster. The bill specifies that HHS may isolate or quarantine an individual who is infected with disease if the individual is unable or unwilling to undergo treatment during a public health disaster. HHS may also recommend an individual exposed to disease receive treatment, isolate, or quarantine.3C (immunization information for child care facilities), and makes conforming changes. Under the bill, HHS also maintains the general authority to provide recommendations for childhood vaccine schedules.12. The bill takes effect upon enactment.