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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a prohibition on certain companies and hospitals from |
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requiring employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination; creating a |
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criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by |
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adding Chapter 24 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 24. CERTAIN EMPLOYER-REQUIRED VACCINATIONS PROHIBITED |
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Sec. 24.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Company" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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808.001, Government Code. |
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(2) "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus |
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disease. |
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(3) "Hospital" means a health facility that is |
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licensed under Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code. |
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(4) "License" means a license, certificate, |
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registration, permit, or other authorization that: |
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(A) is issued by a state agency or political |
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subdivision; and |
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(B) a company must obtain to engage in a |
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particular business or occupation. |
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(5) "Political subdivision" means a county, |
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municipality, school district, special purpose district, or other |
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subdivision of state government that has jurisdiction limited to a |
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geographic portion of the state. |
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(6) "State agency" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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609.001, Government Code. |
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Sec. 24.002. OFFENSE; PENALTIES. (a) A company or hospital |
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commits an offense if the company or hospital requires, as a |
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condition of employment, an employee to receive a COVID-19 |
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vaccination. |
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(b) Each employee required to receive a vaccination is a |
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separate offense under Subsection (a). |
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(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor. |
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(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a company that is |
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convicted of an offense under this section is not eligible to hold a |
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license until the fifth anniversary of the date of the conviction. |
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A state agency or political subdivision shall revoke a license |
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issued to a company that is ineligible to hold the license under |
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this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |