This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 8:33 AM by pflowers.
1     
VACCINE PASSPORT PROHIBITION

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Walt Brooks

5     
Senate Sponsor: Michael S. Kennedy

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill enacts a prohibition on the use of an individual's immunity status by places of
10     public accommodation, governmental entities, and employers.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms;
14          ▸     makes it unlawful for a place of public accommodation to discriminate against an
15     individual based on the individual's immunity status;
16          ▸     with certain exceptions, prohibits a governmental entity from requiring proof of
17     immunity status;
18          ▸     with certain exceptions, makes it unlawful discrimination for an employer to require
19     proof of immunity status; and
20          ▸     prohibits a governmental entity or employer from requiring an individual to receive
21     a vaccine.
22     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23          None
24     Other Special Clauses:
25          None
26     Utah Code Sections Affected:
27     AMENDS:

28          63D-2-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 345
29          63I-1-226, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapters 194, 206, 224, 253, 255,
30     347, and 451
31     ENACTS:
32          13-7-5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33          26-68-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34          34A-5-113, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35     REPEALS:
36          26-68-101, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 182
37          26-68-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 182
38     

39     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
40          Section 1. Section 13-7-5 is enacted to read:
41          13-7-5. Equal right in business establishments, places of public accommodation,
42     and enterprises regulated by the state based on immunity status.
43          (1) As used in this section, "immunity status" means an indication of whether an
44     individual is immune to a disease, whether through vaccination or infection and recovery.
45          (2) All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal and are entitled to
46     full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, goods, and services in all
47     business establishments and in all places of public accommodation, and by all enterprises
48     regulated by the state of every kind whatsoever, without discrimination on the basis of
49     immunity status.
50          (3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny any person the right to regulate
51     the operation of a business establishment or place of public accommodation or an enterprise
52     regulated by the state in a manner which applies uniformly to all persons without regard to
53     immunity status, or to deny any religious organization the right to regulate the operation and
54     procedures of the religious organization's establishments.
55          (4) (a) The provisions in Section 13-7-4 shall apply to enforcement and violations of
56     this section.
57          (b) Upon application to the attorney general by any person denied the rights guaranteed
58     by this section, the attorney general shall investigate and seek to conciliate the matter.

59          Section 2. Section 26-68-103 is enacted to read:
60     
CHAPTER 68. VACCINE AND IMMUNITY PASSPORT RESTRICTIONS ACT

61          26-68-103. Prohibition on requiring immunity passports or vaccination --
62     Exceptions.
63          (1) As used in this section:
64          (a) "Governmental entity" means the same as that term is defined in Section
65     63D-2-102.
66          (b) "Immunity passport" means a document, digital record, or software application
67     indicating that an individual is immune to a disease, whether through vaccination or infection
68     and recovery.
69          (c) "Regulated entity" means an employer, as defined in Section 34A-6-103, that is
70     subject to a regulation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding a vaccine,
71     unless the employer is:
72          (i) the state or a political subdivision of the state; and
73          (ii) not a health care facility as defined in Section 26-21-2.
74          (d) "Vaccination status" means an indication of whether an individual has received one
75     or more doses of a vaccine.
76          (2) A governmental entity may not:
77          (a) refuse, withhold from, or deny to an individual any local or state service, good,
78     facility, advantage, privilege, license, educational opportunity, health care access, or
79     employment opportunity based on the individual's vaccination status, including whether the
80     individual has an immunity passport; or
81          (b) require any individual, directly or indirectly, to receive a vaccine.
82          (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to:
83          (a) a vaccination requirement by Ĥ→ [
a degree-granting] an ←Ĥ institution of higher
83a     education, if
84     the vaccination requirement is implemented in accordance with Section 53B-2-113;
85          (b) a vaccination requirement by a school if the vaccination requirement is
86     implemented in accordance with Title 53G, Chapter 9, Part 3, Immunization Requirements;
87          (c) a child care program as defined in Section 26-39-102 if the vaccination requirement
88     is implemented in accordance with applicable provisions of state and federal law;
89          (d) a regulated entity if compliance with Subsection (2) would result in a violation of

90     binding, mandatory regulations or requirements that affect the regulated entity's funding issued
91     by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the United States Centers for Disease
92     Control and Prevention;
93          (e) a contract for goods or services entered into before May 3, 2023, if:
94          (i) application of this section would result in a substantial impairment of the contract;
95     and
96          (ii) the contract is not between an employer and the employer's employee;
97          (f) a federal contractor; Ĥ→ [
or] ←Ĥ
98          (g) a governmental entity vaccination requirement of an employee who, as determined
99     by the governmental entity:
100          (i) has, as part of the employee's duties, direct exposure to human blood, human fecal
101     matter, or other potentially infectious materials that may expose the employee to hepatitis or
102     tuberculosis; or
103          (ii) is acting in a public health or medical setting that requires the employee to receive
104     vaccinations to perform the employee's assigned duties and responsibilities Ĥ→ [
.] ; or
104a      (h) a governmental entity that:
104b     (i) establishes a nexus between a vaccination requirement and the employee's assigned duties
104c     and responsibilities; or
104d     (ii) identifies an external requirement for vaccination that is not imposed by the governmental
104e     entity and is related to the employee's duties and responsibilities. ←Ĥ
105          Ĥ→ [
(4) A governmental entity described in Subsection (3)(g) shall allow the employee to
106     decline vaccination if the employee submits to the governmental entity a written statement that
107     receiving the vaccine would:
108          (a) be injurious to the health and well-being of the employee;
109          (b) conflict with a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance of the
110     employee; or
111          (c) conflict with a sincerely held personal belief of the employee.
112          (5)
] (4) ←Ĥ
Nothing in this section prohibits a governmental entity from recommending that
112a     an
113     employee receive a vaccine.
114          Section 3. Section 34A-5-113 is enacted to read:
115          34A-5-113. Prohibition on requiring immunity passports and discrimination
116     based on immunity -- Exceptions.
117          (1) As used in this section:
118          (a) "Employer" means, notwithstanding Section 34A-5-102:
119          (i) the state;
120          (ii) a county, city, town, or school district in the state; and
121          (iii) a person, including a public utility, having one or more workers or operatives
122     regularly employed in the same business, or in or about the same establishment, under any
123     contract of hire.
124          (b) "Immunity passport" means a document, digital record, or software application
125     indicating that an individual is immune to a disease, whether through vaccination or infection
126     and recovery.
127          (c) "Regulated entity" means an employer, as defined in Section 34A-6-103, that is
128     subject to a regulation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding a vaccine,
129     unless the employer is:
130          (i) the state or a political subdivision of the state; and
131          (ii) not a health care facility as defined in Section 26-21-2.
132          (d) "School" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-9-301.
133          (e) "Vaccination status" means an indication of whether an individual has received one
134     or more doses of a vaccine.
135          (2) It is a discriminatory or prohibited employment practice for an employer, on the
136     basis of an individual's vaccination status or whether the individual has an immunity passport,
137     to:
138          (a) refuse employment to an individual;
139          (b) bar an individual from employment; or
140          (c) discriminate against an individual in compensation or in a term, condition, or
141     privilege of employment.
142          (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to:
143          (a) a vaccination requirement by a child care program as defined in Section 26-39-102
144     if the vaccination requirement is implemented in accordance with applicable provisions of state
145     and federal law;
146          (b) a regulated entity if compliance with Subsection (2) would result in a violation of
147     binding, mandatory regulations or requirements that affect the regulated entity's funding issued
148     by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the United States Centers for Disease
149     Control and Prevention;
150          (c) a contract for goods or services entered into before May 3, 2023, if:
151          (i) application of this section would result in a substantial impairment of the contract;

152     and
153          (ii) the contract is not between an employer and the employer's employee;
154          (d) a federal contractor;
155          (e) an employer vaccination requirement of an employee Ĥ→ [
:
156          (i)
] ←Ĥ
who, as determined by the employer, has direct exposure to human blood, human
157     fecal matter, or other potentially infectious materials that may expose the employee to hepatitis
158     or tuberculosis; Ĥ→ or
158a     (f) an employer that:
158b     (i) establishes a nexus between a vaccination requirement and the employee's assigned duties
158c     and responsibilities; or
158d     (ii) identifies an external requirement for vaccination that is not imposed by the employer and
158e     is related to the employee's duties and responsibilities. ←Ĥ
159          Ĥ→ [
(ii) whose primary duties and responsibilities, as determined by the employer, require
160     the employee:
161          (A) to enter into a regulated entity in Utah, or a facility in a state or territory of the
162     United States outside of Utah, where vaccination is required under state or federal law to
163     access the facility; or
164          (B) to travel to a country that requires vaccination as a condition of entry into the
165     country.
166          (4) An employer described in Subsection (3)(e) shall allow the employee to decline
167     vaccination if the employee submits to the employer a written statement that receiving the
168     vaccine would:
169          (a) be injurious to the health and well-being of the employee;
170          (b) conflict with a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance of the
171     employee; or
172          (c) conflict with a sincerely held personal belief of the employee.
173          (5)
] (4) ←Ĥ
Nothing in this section prohibits an employer from recommending that an
173a     employee
174     receive a vaccine.
175          Section 4. Section 63D-2-102 is amended to read:
176          63D-2-102. Definitions.
177          As used in this chapter:
178          (1) (a) "Collect" means the gathering of personally identifiable information:
179          (i) from a user of a governmental website; or
180          (ii) about a user of the governmental website.
181          (b) "Collect" includes use of any identifying code linked to a user of a governmental
182     website.

183          (2) "Court website" means a website on the Internet that is operated by or on behalf of
184     any court created in Title 78A, Chapter 1, Judiciary.
185          (3) "Governmental entity" means:
186          (a) an executive branch agency as defined in Section 63A-16-102;
187          (b) the legislative branch;
188          (c) the judicial branch;
189          (d) the State Board of Education;
190          (e) the Utah Board of Higher Education;
191          (f) an institution of higher education as defined in Section 53B-1-102; and
192          (g) a political subdivision of the state:
193          (i) as defined in Section 17B-1-102; and
194          (ii) including a school district.
195          (4) (a) "Governmental website" means a website on the Internet that is operated by or
196     on behalf of a governmental entity.
197          (b) "Governmental website" includes a court website.
198          (5) "Governmental website operator" means a governmental entity or person acting on
199     behalf of the governmental entity that:
200          (a) operates a governmental website; and
201          (b) collects or maintains personally identifiable information from or about a user of
202     that website.
203          (6) "Personally identifiable information" means information that identifies:
204          (a) a user by:
205          (i) name;
206          (ii) account number;
207          (iii) physical address;
208          (iv) email address;
209          (v) telephone number;
210          (vi) Social Security number;
211          (vii) credit card information; or
212          (viii) bank account information;
213          (b) a user as having requested or obtained specific materials or services from a

214     governmental website;
215          (c) Internet sites visited by a user; or
216          (d) any of the contents of a user's data-storage device.
217          (7) "User" means a person who accesses a governmental website.
218          Section 5. Section 63I-1-226 is amended to read:
219          63I-1-226. Repeal dates: Title 26 through 26B.
220          (1) Section 26-1-7.5, which creates the Utah Health Advisory Council, is repealed July
221     1, 2025.
222          (2) Section 26-1-40 is repealed July 1, 2022.
223          (3) Section 26-1-41 is repealed July 1, 2026.
224          (4) Section 26-1-43 is repealed December 31, 2025.
225          (5) Section 26-7-10 is repealed July 1, 2025.
226          (6) Subsection 26-7-11(5), regarding reports to the Legislature, is repealed July 1,
227     2028.
228          (7) Section 26-7-14 is repealed December 31, 2027.
229          (8) Section 26-8a-603 is repealed July 1, 2027.
230          (9) Title 26, Chapter 9f, Utah Digital Health Service Commission Act, is repealed July
231     1, 2025.
232          (10) Subsection 26-10-6(5), which creates the Newborn Hearing Screening Committee,
233     is repealed July 1, 2026.
234          (11) Section 26-10b-106, which creates the Primary Care Grant Committee, is repealed
235     July 1, 2025.
236          (12) Subsection 26-15c-104(3), relating to a limitation on the number of
237     microenterprise home kitchen permits that may be issued, is repealed July 1, 2022.
238          (13) Subsection 26-18-2.6(9), which addresses reimbursement for dental hygienists, is
239     repealed July 1, 2028.
240          (14) Section 26-18-27 is repealed July 1, 2025.
241          (15) Section 26-18-28 is repealed June 30, 2027.
242          (16) Title 26, Chapter 18, Part 2, Drug Utilization Review Board, is repealed July 1,
243     2027.
244          (17) Subsection 26-18-418(2), the language that states "and the Behavioral Health

245     Crisis Response Commission created in Section 63C-18-202" is repealed July 1, 2023.
246          (18) Section 26-33a-117 is repealed December 31, 2023.
247          (19) Title 26, Chapter 33a, Utah Health Data Authority Act, is repealed July 1, 2024.
248          (20) Title 26, Chapter 36b, Inpatient Hospital Assessment Act, is repealed July 1,
249     2024.
250          (21) Title 26, Chapter 36c, Medicaid Expansion Hospital Assessment Act, is repealed
251     July 1, 2024.
252          (22) Title 26, Chapter 36d, Hospital Provider Assessment Act, is repealed July 1, 2024.
253          (23) Section 26-39-201, which creates the Residential Child Care Licensing Advisory
254     Committee, is repealed July 1, 2024.
255          (24) Section 26-39-405, Drinking water quality in child care centers, is repealed July 1,
256     2027.
257          (25) Section 26-40-104, which creates the Utah Children's Health Insurance Program
258     Advisory Council, is repealed July 1, 2025.
259          (26) Section 26-50-202, which creates the Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory
260     Committee, is repealed July 1, 2025.
261          (27) Title 26, Chapter 54, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fund and
262     Pediatric Neuro-Rehabilitation Fund, is repealed January 1, 2025.
263          (28) Title 26, Chapter 66, Early Childhood Utah Advisory Council, is repealed July 1,
264     2026.
265          [(29) Title 26, Chapter 68, COVID-19 Vaccine Restrictions Act, is repealed July 1,
266     2024.]
267          [(30)] (29) Section 26-69-406 is repealed July 1, 2025.
268          [(31)] (30) Subsection 26B-1-204(2)(i), related to the Residential Child Care Licensing
269     Advisory Committee, is repealed July 1, 2024.
270          [(32)] (31) Subsection 26B-1-204(2)(k), related to the Primary Care Grant Committee,
271     is repealed July 1, 2025.
272          Section 6. Repealer.
273          This bill repeals:
274          Section 26-68-101, Title.
275          Section 26-68-102, Governmental entities prohibited from requiring a COVID-19

276     vaccine.