SPONSOR: Schroer
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Judiciary by a vote of 7 to 4. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Administrative Oversight by a vote of 7 to 4.
This bill provides that an employer or government entity may not require weekly COVID-19 testing for employees, contractors, or students who are not vaccinated for COVID-19 unless they also require vaccinated employees, contractors, or students to undergo weekly testing. An employer or government entity may not consider COVID-19 vaccination status when determining whether to grant exemptions to or varying the interval of testing. Employers and government entities must pay for the cost of testing.
Any employer or government entity that requires employees, contractors, or students to undergo or prove receipt of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, contract, or educational opportunity shall be liable for damages or injury arising from the vaccination. An employee, contractor, or student may bring action for damages or injury at any time.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this is a balancing act and does not outlaw what an employer can do but it places liability on the employer. It basically makes it a workers compensation issue. This makes the testing requirement consistent, because you can still get and spread the virus with the vaccine and testing only unvaccinated people is discriminatory. It takes the vaccine status out of the equation, so if you re going to test people, you re going to have to test everyone.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Schroer; Aaron Nottingham; Aimee Ratcliff; Laurie H; Valerie Lawrence; Bret Hilbert; Jessica Idleman; Johanna Beaudean; Mark Branstetter; Melinda Branstetter; Monica Heppermann; Jason Moore; Lisa Jones; and Michael Meyer.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill submitted their testimony in writing, which can be found online.
Testifying against the bill were Susan Gibson; Pro Choice Missouri; Bobby Lawhon; Lisa Douglas; Missouri State Medical Association; Missouri Retailers Association; Missouri Grocers Association; Missouri Tire Industry Association; Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Emily Hornstra; Sheryl Foster; Kathleen Hilmer- Kendall; Missouri Health Care Association; Associated Industries of Missouri; Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; Arnie C. Dienoff; and American Lung Association.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill submitted their testimony in writing, which can be found online.
Testifying on the bill were Twilah Hiari; Agnieszka Lass- Napiorkowska Phd; Sarah Fuller; Sylwester Napiorkowski; LeadingAge Missouri.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: