87S30190 KKR-F
 
  By: Hughes S.B. No. 51
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prohibited COVID-19 vaccine mandates and vaccination
  status discrimination and to exemptions from certain vaccine
  requirements.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 161.0085, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (b-1) and amending Subsection (e) to
  read as follows:
         (b-1)  A governmental entity in this state may not require an
  individual to provide any documentation certifying the
  individual's COVID-19 vaccination or post-transmission recovery on
  entry to, to gain access to, or to receive service from the
  governmental entity.
         (e)  This section may not be construed to:
               (1)  restrict a business or governmental entity from
  implementing COVID-19 screening and infection control protocols in
  accordance with state and federal law to protect public health; or
               (2)  interfere with an individual's right to access the
  individual's personal health information under federal law.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 161, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 161.0086 to read as follows:
         Sec. 161.0086.  PROHIBITION ON POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
  MANDATING COVID-19 VACCINATIONS. (a) In this section, "COVID-19"
  means the 2019 novel coronavirus disease.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, including Chapter 81 of
  this code and Chapter 418, Government Code, a political subdivision
  of this state may not issue an order, adopt an ordinance, or
  otherwise require an individual to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
         SECTION 3.  Section 38.001(b), Education Code, as amended by
  Chapters 43 (H.B. 1098) and 94 (H.B. 1059), Acts of the 80th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, is reenacted and amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  Subject to Subsections (b-1), (b-2), and (c), the
  executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
  may modify or delete any of the immunizations in Subsection (a) or
  may require immunizations against additional diseases as a
  requirement for admission to any elementary or secondary school.
         SECTION 4.  Section 38.001, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows:
         (b-2)  An elementary or secondary school may not require a
  student, as a condition of the student's admission to or continued
  enrollment in the school, to be vaccinated against the 2019 novel
  coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.91921 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.91921.  PROHIBITION ON PRIVATE OR INDEPENDENT
  INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION MANDATING COVID-19 VACCINATION
  FOR STUDENTS. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus
  disease.
               (2)  "Private or independent institution of higher
  education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
         (b)  A private or independent institution of higher
  education may not require a student, as a condition of the student's
  admission to or continued enrollment in the institution, to be
  vaccinated against COVID-19.
         SECTION 6.  Section 51.933, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-2) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-2), the [The]
  executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission
  may require immunizations against the diseases listed in Subsection
  (a) and additional diseases for students at any institution of
  higher education who are pursuing a course of study in a human or
  animal health profession, and the executive commissioner may
  require those immunizations for any students in times of an
  emergency or epidemic in a county where the commissioner of state
  health services has declared such an emergency or epidemic.
         (b-2)  An institution of higher education may not require a
  student, as a condition of the student's admission to or continued
  enrollment in the institution, to be vaccinated against the 2019
  novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
         SECTION 7.  Chapter 21, Labor Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter H-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER H-1. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON EXEMPTION FROM REQUIRED
  COVID-19 VACCINATION
         Sec. 21.421.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "COVID-19" 
  means the 2019 novel coronavirus disease.
         Sec. 21.422.  EXEMPTION FROM REQUIRED COVID-19 VACCINATION.  
  An employer, labor organization, or employment agency shall allow
  an individual to claim an exemption from a required COVID-19
  vaccination based on a medical condition or reasons of conscience,
  including a religious belief.
         Sec. 21.423.  PROHIBITED DISCRIMINATION BASED ON EXEMPTION
  FROM REQUIRED COVID-19 VACCINATION. (a)  An employer commits an
  unlawful employment practice if the employer fails or refuses to
  hire, discharges, or otherwise discriminates against an individual
  with respect to the compensation or the terms, conditions, or
  privileges of employment because the individual claims an exemption
  described by Section 21.422.
         (b)  A labor organization commits an unlawful employment
  practice if the labor organization excludes or expels from
  membership or otherwise discriminates against an individual
  because the individual claims an exemption described by Section
  21.422.
         (c)  An employment agency commits an unlawful employment
  practice if the employment agency classifies or refers for
  employment, fails or refuses to refer for employment, or otherwise
  discriminates against an individual because the individual claims
  an exemption described by Section 21.422.
         Sec. 21.424.  COVID-19 VACCINATION EXEMPTION AFFIDAVIT
  FORM. (a)  An employee claiming an exemption from a required
  COVID-19 vaccination must complete and provide to the employee's
  employer an affidavit on a form described by Subsection (e) stating
  the reason for the exemption.
         (b)  The affidavit must be signed by the employee claiming
  the exemption or, if the employee is a minor, the employee's parent,
  managing conservator, or guardian, and the affidavit must be
  notarized.
         (c)  On request of an employee, an employer shall provide to
  the employee a blank copy of the vaccination exemption affidavit
  form described by Subsection (e).
         (d)  On receipt of an employee's signed and notarized
  affidavit claiming the exemption, the employer shall exempt the
  employee from receiving a required COVID-19 vaccination.
         (e)  The commission shall develop and make available on the
  commission's Internet website a blank affidavit form to be used by
  an employee who claims an exemption from a required COVID-19
  vaccination. The content of the affidavit form must be the same or
  substantially similar to the affidavit form developed under Section
  161.0041, Health and Safety Code, except that the form is not
  required to contain a seal or other security device under
  Subsection (d) of that section.
         SECTION 8.  Section 224.002(c), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The policy shall [may] include procedures for a covered
  individual to be exempt from the required vaccines based on reasons
  of conscience, including a religious belief.
         SECTION 9.  Subchapter H-1, Chapter 21, Labor Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to an unlawful employment practice that
  occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 10.  (a)  The changes in law made by this Act to
  Title 2, Education Code, apply beginning with the 2021-2022 school
  year.
         (b)  The changes in law made by this Act to Title 3, Education
  Code, apply beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year.
         SECTION 11.  This Act takes effect immediately if it
  receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
  house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  
  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
  effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of
  the legislative session.