Lawmakers in Texas are said to be weighing up legislation that would provide workers with legal footing to refuse Covid-19 vaccine mandates for “reasons of conscience.” Also, this would give them the right to take legal action against their employers if they disagree with them.
Opting out of Covid-10 vaccine requirements
Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider said that the bill would enable employees to opt out of vaccine requisites that their employers set either on the grounds of personal conscience or for medical reasons. Additionally, he stated that those opposing the bill include some business groups as they have concerns that it would usher in a plethora of lawsuits against private employers.
This ruling would also apply to workers who already got immunity against Covid-19 since they’ve previously contracted the virus and have recovered from it. However, it was not disclosed as to how they would prove that they’re already immune from the disease, WEKU reported.
As mentioned, the bill enables employees who are fired or otherwise got sidelined to take legal actions against their employers as if the employer has committed employment malpractice. Further, the employees can request the court to prevent their employers from firing them or have their employers provide them with compensatory or punitive damages.
HB 155
It was learned that the bill dubbed HB 155 has 24 sponsors – all of them Republicans. It is as of late in the House State Affairs Committee.
HB 155’s principal author – State Representative Tom Oliverson, has been vaccinated against Covid-19 and even revealed that he’s one of the first to line up when the shots became available. Albeit such a fact, he stated that he’s not a believer in the efficacy of public health mandates. Oliverson went on to say that the bill conforms to patient autonomy as this according to the author is at the foundation of medical ethics in the United States.
Oliverson also stated that “that is the idea that a patient of a sound mind and body has the right to accept or refuse medical advice or treatment” regardless of what medical experts might say.
