On 15 to 17 November 2021, the Florida legislature debated and passed four bills that address COVID-19 issues related to employees and parents/students. On 18 November 2021 and effective immediately, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 2-B and its companion House Bill (HB) 1-B,1 as well as HB 3-B/SB 4-B, 2 HB 5-B/SB 6-B,3 and HB 7-B/SB 8-B.4
HB 1-B/SB 2-B prohibits private employers from imposing a COVID-195 vaccination mandate for any full-time, part-time, or contract employee without also providing five individual exemptions from receiving the vaccine. Specifically, the new law provides that Florida private employers that want to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine must provide for and recognize the following five exemptions: (i) medical reasons, including, but not limited to, pregnancy or anticipated pregnancy; (ii) religious reasons; (iii) COVID-19 immunity; (iv) periodic testing; and (v) the use of employer-provided personal protective equipment. The new law requires employers to use forms created by the Florida Department of Health,6 or substantially similar forms, for employees to submit exemption statements. The law also prohibits government entities from requiring anyone, including employees, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, educational institutions may not require students to be vaccinated,7 and school districts are not permitted to require students and staff to wear face masks. The law further prohibits school districts...
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