The proposed bill would amend current Arizona statutes by adding new provisions that prohibit health professionals and health care institutions from denying care or adversely affecting a person's health care options based on their vaccination status. Specifically, it would insert language that establishes a cause of action for individuals whose health care has been negatively impacted due to their vaccination status, allowing them to seek legal recourse in a court of competent jurisdiction. Additionally, the bill would impose civil penalties on violators, set at $500 per violation or three times the actual damages suffered, whichever is greater, and allow for the awarding of punitive damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees to prevailing plaintiffs.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that declarations of public health emergencies, health care crises, or pandemics do not exempt health professionals or institutions from these prohibitions. It mandates that any health care-related mandates issued during such emergencies must be interpreted in a way that upholds the protections against discrimination based on vaccination status. This comprehensive approach aims to ensure that individuals retain their rights to health care services regardless of their vaccination choices, reinforcing the protections within the health care system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 32-3230.03, 36-420.06