The Senate Judiciary Committee heard SB 1 on civil immunity related to COVID-19 authored by Sen. Messmer and Sen. Koch. The bill provides civil immunity for damages resulting from exposure of an individual to COVID-19 on the premises owned or operated by a person, on any premises on which the person or an employee or agent of the person provided property or services to the individual, or during an activity managed, organized, or sponsored by the person.
At the January 6th meeting, the Committee took testimony from numerous organizations in favor of the bill, neutral testimony from Arc and the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and testimony against from AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers. The bill was held for amendment.
At the January 13th meeting, the bill was amended to add that it only applies in civil tort actions, and that it applies to different strains of COVID-19. The amendment also added a section on products liability protection. The amended bill passed 8-3.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2021/bills/senate/1