2021 21LSO-1048
STATE OF WYOMING
HOUSE BILL NO. HB1014
COVID-19-prohibiting coercion-2.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Haroldson, Bear, Jennings,
Neiman and Rodriguez-Williams and Senator(s)
Biteman, Hutchings, Salazar and Steinmetz
A BILL
for
1 AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; amending the
2 elements of the crime of blackmail as specified;
3 prohibiting coercion or intimidation in employment due to
4 an employee's COVID 19 vaccination status; providing
5 remedies; and providing for an effective date.
6
7 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
8
9 Section 1. W.S. 27-1-117 is created to read:
10
11 27-1-117. Prohibiting blackmail and coercion based on
12 COVID-19 vaccination status in employment; remedies.
13
14 (a) As used in this section:
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1
2 (i) "COVID-19" means as defined by W.S.
3 1-1-141(a)(ii);
4
5 (ii) "COVID-19 immunity passport" means a
6 document, digital record or software application that
7 evidences that a person has received a COVID-19 vaccination
8 or that a person has recovered from an active COVID-19
9 infection;
10
11 (iii) "COVID-19 vaccination" means any vaccine
12 that is marketed to prevent COVID-19 or any vaccine that is
13 marketed to diminish or decrease the symptoms of COVID-19;
14
15 (iv) "COVID-19 vaccination status" means
16 evidence of whether a person has received one (1) or more
17 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and shall include a COVID-19
18 immunity passport.
19
20 (b) No person shall discharge, threaten to discharge,
21 intimidate, blackmail or coerce any employee by reason of
22 the employee's COVID-19 vaccination status.
23
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1 (c) Any person who violates subsection (b) of this
2 section:
3
4 (i) May be enjoined from further violations of
5 subsection (b) of this section in order to provide other
6 appropriate relief, including but not limited to
7 reinstatement of the employee;
8
9 (ii) Is liable for exemplary damages to the
10 employee in an amount set by the court, but not to exceed
11 forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00) for each violation as
12 to each employee; and
13
14 (iii) Is liable for the employee's reasonable
15 costs and attorney fees, as set by the court, for enforcing
16 his rights under this section.
17
18 Section 2. W.S. 6-2-402 by creating a new subsection
19 (f) is amended to read:
20
21 6-2-402. Blackmail; aggravated blackmail; penalties.
22
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1 (f) A person commits blackmail if, with the intent to
2 compel another person to receive a COVID-19 vaccination,
3 the person threatens the livelihood, immediate or future
4 employment or educational opportunities of the person. As
5 used in this subsection, "COVID-19 vaccination" means any
6 vaccine that is marketed to prevent COVID-19 or any vaccine
7 that is marketed to diminish or decrease the symptoms of
8 COVID-19.
9
10 Section 3. This act is effective immediately upon
11 completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law
12 as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming
13 Constitution.
14
15 (END)
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 6-2-402