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Information about Special Session 2021B enclosed 
Today at 1pm, the Florida Legislature will convene in Special Session B to address the Governor’s call to action on COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Late last week, the Governor and legislative leadership held a press conference to outline their priorities. Four bills will be considered. Each have House and Senate versions, which are summarized below. They will move through the committee process and then to a full vote by both chambers, likely concluding by late Wednesday or early Thursday. All legislative activity will be streamed on the Florida Channel’s website. Please let us know if you have any questions. This bill prohibits employers from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations without opt-outs based on medical or religious reason or on the basis of a prior infection. It allows an opt-out election for periodic testing or the use of employer-provided PPE. It empowers the Attorney General to receive complaints for violations, prohibits public educational institutions and government entities from requiring vaccination as a condition of employment, and specifies that employees improperly terminated on the basis of COVID-19 vaccination status may be eligible for reemployment benefits. A full analysis can be found here. The Senate bill will be heard in Judiciary today at 2:30pm & the House bill will be up in Commerce at 3pm. HB 3/SB 4: Public Records Bill for Employer Vaccination Policies This bill creates a public records exemption for an employee complaint alleging a violation of state law regarding employer COVID-19 vaccination policies or practices, as well as all information relating to the investigation of a complaint until such time as the investigation is complete or ceases to be active. This means that the information cannot be disclosed pursuant to a public record request until finalized. A staff report can be found here. These bills will be heard alongside HB 1 & SB 2, with which they are linked. HB 5/SB 6 Florida Occupational Safety and Health State Plan As a result of OSHA’s impending vaccine mandate, this bill authorizes the exploration of the merits of developing a state plan. It empowers the Governor’s Office to develop a proposal for a state plan to assert jurisdiction over occupational safety and health issues for government and private employees, and requires a status report on such exploration be provided to the Legislature by January 17, 2022. A full summary of the bill is here. HB 5 will be heard today in the Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee at 3pm & SB 6 will be heard today in Judiciary at 2:30pm. HB 7/SB 8 Vaccinations During Public Emergencies This bill repeals the State Health Officer’s authority to order an individual be vaccinated for communicable diseases, potentially by any means necessary, during a public health emergency. The bill analysis is linked here. HB 7 will be heard in the Health & Human Services Committee today at 3pm & SB 8 will heard in Judiciary at 2:30pm.  |
