The Senate Health and Provider Services Committee heard HB 1001 on administrative authority; COVID-19 immunizations authored by Rep. Lehman and sponsored by Sens. Messmer and Charbonneau. The bill establishes Indiana COVID-19 immunization law and addresses vaccination policies in the work environment. Sen. Messmer introduced amendment #13 and the Committee voted 7-2 to adopt. The amendment removes language from the bill concerning the following:
- waivers concerning the claiming of certain enhanced federal matching funds
- emergency declarations for SNAP emergency allotments
- state health commissioner standing order authority for children at least five years old
- temporary licensure of retired and inactive emergency medical services personnel
- temporary licensure for health care practitioners
- malpractice coverage for the individuals issued temporary licenses
- language concerning an individual not being subject to disqualification from unemployment compensation.
The amendment also does the following:
- provides an exemption from the employer immunization exemption requirements for: (1) a health care facility subject to a federal immunity requirement; and (2) an employer that operates a professional sports organization or an entertainment complex
- provides accommodations in compliance with federal law.
- changes the number of times an employer may require an employee to get testing from once a week to twice a week
- removes language that prohibited an employer from: (1) requiring an employee to pay for the cost of a COVID-19 test; and (2) taking adverse employment action against an employee because the employee requested or used an exemption
- removes language that established reimbursement for testing through the Department of Workforce Development
- changes the limitation on testing from six months to three months
- specifies that a religious accommodation by an employer must comply with federal law.
Numerous individuals and the Employers’ Forum of Indiana testified in opposition to the amendment. The following groups testified in support of the amendment: Indiana Manufacturers Association, One Zone Chamber of Commerce (representing Carmel, Fishers, Evansville, South Bend), Indiana Hospital Association, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indy Chamber, and Indiana Immunization Coalition. The amended bill passed 8-2.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2022/bills/house/1001