1     
VACCINE PASSPORT PROHIBITION

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Walt Brooks

5     
Senate Sponsor: Michael S. Kennedy

6     Cosponsors:
7     Cheryl K. Acton
8     Carl R. Albrecht
9     Stewart E. Barlow
10     Kera Birkeland
11     Bridger Bolinder
12     Brady Brammer
13     Jefferson S. Burton
14     Kay J. Christofferson
15     Tyler Clancy
16     Joseph Elison
17     Stephanie Gricius
18     Katy Hall
Jon Hawkins
Ken Ivory
Colin W. Jack
Dan N. Johnson
Michael L. Kohler
Quinn Kotter
Jason B. Kyle
Trevor Lee
Karianne Lisonbee
Steven J. Lund
Phil Lyman
A. Cory Maloy
Jefferson Moss
Michael J. Petersen
Thomas W. Peterson
Mike Schultz
Rex P. Shipp
Keven J. Stratton
Mark A. Strong
Jordan D. Teuscher
Christine F. Watkins
Stephen L. Whyte
Brad R. Wilson

19     

20     LONG TITLE
21     General Description:
22          This bill enacts a prohibition on the use of an individual's immunity status by places of
23     public accommodation, governmental entities, and employers.
24     Highlighted Provisions:
25          This bill:
26          ▸     defines terms;
27          ▸     makes it unlawful for a place of public accommodation to discriminate against an
28     individual based on the individual's immunity status;

29          ▸     with certain exceptions, prohibits a governmental entity from requiring proof of
30     immunity status;
31          ▸     with certain exceptions, makes it unlawful discrimination for an employer to require
32     proof of immunity status; and
33          ▸     prohibits a governmental entity or employer from requiring an individual to receive
34     a vaccine.
35     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
36          None
37     Other Special Clauses:
38          None
39     Utah Code Sections Affected:
40     AMENDS:
41          63D-2-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 345
42          63I-1-226, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapters 194, 206, 224, 253, 255,
43     347, and 451
44     ENACTS:
45          13-7-5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
46          26-68-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
47          34A-5-113, Utah Code Annotated 1953
48     REPEALS:
49          26-68-101, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 182
50          26-68-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 182
51     

52     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
53          Section 1. Section 13-7-5 is enacted to read:
54          13-7-5. Equal right in business establishments, places of public accommodation,
55     and enterprises regulated by the state regardless of immunity status.
56          (1) As used in this section, "immunity status" means an indication of whether an

57     individual is immune to a disease, whether through vaccination or infection and recovery.
58          (2) All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal and are entitled to
59     full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, goods, and services in all
60     business establishments and in all places of public accommodation, and by all enterprises
61     regulated by the state of every kind whatsoever, without discrimination on the basis of
62     immunity status.
63          (3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to deny any person the right to regulate
64     the operation of a business establishment or place of public accommodation or an enterprise
65     regulated by the state in a manner which applies uniformly to all persons without regard to
66     immunity status, or to deny any religious organization the right to regulate the operation and
67     procedures of the religious organization's establishments.
68          (4) (a) The provisions in Section 13-7-4 shall apply to enforcement and violations of
69     this section.
70          (b) Upon application to the attorney general by any person denied the rights guaranteed
71     by this section, the attorney general shall investigate and seek to conciliate the matter.
72          Section 2. Section 26-68-103 is enacted to read:
73     
CHAPTER 68. VACCINE AND IMMUNITY PASSPORT RESTRICTIONS ACT

74          26-68-103. Prohibition on requiring immunity passports or vaccination --
75     Exceptions.
76          (1) As used in this section:
77          (a) "Governmental entity" means the same as that term is defined in Section
78     63D-2-102.
79          (b) "Immunity passport" means a document, digital record, or software application
80     indicating that an individual is immune to a disease, whether through vaccination or infection
81     and recovery.
82          (c) "Regulated entity" means an employer, as defined in Section 34A-6-103, that is
83     subject to a regulation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding a vaccine,
84     unless the employer is:

85          (i) the state or a political subdivision of the state; and
86          (ii) not a health care facility as defined in Section 26-21-2.
87          (d) "Vaccination status" means an indication of whether an individual has received one
88     or more doses of a vaccine.
89          (2) A governmental entity may not:
90          (a) refuse, withhold from, or deny to an individual any local or state service, good,
91     facility, advantage, privilege, license, educational opportunity, health care access, or
92     employment opportunity based on the individual's vaccination status, including whether the
93     individual has an immunity passport; or
94          (b) require any individual, directly or indirectly, to receive a vaccine.
95          (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to:
96          (a) a vaccination requirement by an institution of higher education, if the vaccination
97     requirement is implemented in accordance with Section 53B-2-113;
98          (b) a vaccination requirement by a school if the vaccination requirement is
99     implemented in accordance with Title 53G, Chapter 9, Part 3, Immunization Requirements;
100          (c) a child care program as defined in Section 26-39-102 if the vaccination requirement
101     is implemented in accordance with applicable provisions of state and federal law;
102          (d) a regulated entity if compliance with Subsection (2) would result in a violation of
103     binding, mandatory regulations or requirements that affect the regulated entity's funding issued
104     by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the United States Centers for Disease
105     Control and Prevention;
106          (e) a contract for goods or services entered into before May 3, 2023, if:
107          (i) application of this section would result in a substantial impairment of the contract;
108     and
109          (ii) the contract is not between an employer and the employer's employee;
110          (f) a federal contractor;
111          (g) a governmental entity vaccination requirement of an employee who, as determined
112     by the governmental entity:

113          (i) has, as part of the employee's duties, direct exposure to human blood, human fecal
114     matter, or other potentially infectious materials that may expose the employee to hepatitis or
115     tuberculosis; or
116          (ii) is acting in a public health or medical setting that requires the employee to receive
117     vaccinations to perform the employee's assigned duties and responsibilities; or
118          (h) a governmental entity that:
119          (i) establishes a nexus between a vaccination requirement and the employee's assigned
120     duties and responsibilities; or
121          (ii) identifies an external requirement for vaccination that is not imposed by the
122     governmental entity and is related to the employee's duties and responsibilities.
123          (4) Nothing in this section prohibits a governmental entity from recommending that an
124     employee receive a vaccine.
125          Section 3. Section 34A-5-113 is enacted to read:
126          34A-5-113. Prohibition on requiring immunity passports and discrimination
127     based on immunity -- Exceptions.
128          (1) As used in this section:
129          (a) "Employer" means, notwithstanding Section 34A-5-102:
130          (i) the state;
131          (ii) a county, city, town, or school district in the state; and
132          (iii) a person, including a public utility, having one or more workers or operatives
133     regularly employed in the same business, or in or about the same establishment, under any
134     contract of hire.
135          (b) "Immunity passport" means a document, digital record, or software application
136     indicating that an individual is immune to a disease, whether through vaccination or infection
137     and recovery.
138          (c) "Regulated entity" means an employer, as defined in Section 34A-6-103, that is
139     subject to a regulation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding a vaccine,
140     unless the employer is:

141          (i) the state or a political subdivision of the state; and
142          (ii) not a health care facility as defined in Section 26-21-2.
143          (d) "School" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53G-9-301.
144          (e) "Vaccination status" means an indication of whether an individual has received one
145     or more doses of a vaccine.
146          (2) It is a discriminatory or prohibited employment practice for an employer, on the
147     basis of an individual's vaccination status or whether the individual has an immunity passport,
148     to:
149          (a) refuse employment to an individual;
150          (b) bar an individual from employment; or
151          (c) discriminate against an individual in compensation or in a term, condition, or
152     privilege of employment.
153          (3) Subsection (2) does not apply to:
154          (a) a vaccination requirement by a child care program as defined in Section 26-39-102
155     if the vaccination requirement is implemented in accordance with applicable provisions of state
156     and federal law;
157          (b) a regulated entity if compliance with Subsection (2) would result in a violation of
158     binding, mandatory regulations or requirements that affect the regulated entity's funding issued
159     by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the United States Centers for Disease
160     Control and Prevention;
161          (c) a contract for goods or services entered into before May 3, 2023, if:
162          (i) application of this section would result in a substantial impairment of the contract;
163     and
164          (ii) the contract is not between an employer and the employer's employee;
165          (d) a federal contractor;
166          (e) an employer vaccination requirement of an employee who, as determined by the
167     employer, has direct exposure to human blood, human fecal matter, or other potentially
168     infectious materials that may expose the employee to hepatitis or tuberculosis; or

169          (f) an employer that:
170          (i) establishes a nexus between a vaccination requirement and the employee's assigned
171     duties and responsibilities; or
172          (ii) identifies an external requirement for vaccination that is not imposed by the
173     employer and is related to the employee's duties and responsibilities.
174          (4) Nothing in this section prohibits an employer from recommending that an employee
175     receive a vaccine.
176          Section 4. Section 63D-2-102 is amended to read:
177          63D-2-102. Definitions.
178          As used in this chapter:
179          (1) (a) "Collect" means the gathering of personally identifiable information:
180          (i) from a user of a governmental website; or
181          (ii) about a user of the governmental website.
182          (b) "Collect" includes use of any identifying code linked to a user of a governmental
183     website.
184          (2) "Court website" means a website on the Internet that is operated by or on behalf of
185     any court created in Title 78A, Chapter 1, Judiciary.
186          (3) "Governmental entity" means:
187          (a) an executive branch agency as defined in Section 63A-16-102;
188          (b) the legislative branch;
189          (c) the judicial branch;
190          (d) the State Board of Education;
191          (e) the Utah Board of Higher Education;
192          (f) an institution of higher education as defined in Section 53B-1-102; and
193          (g) a political subdivision of the state:
194          (i) as defined in Section 17B-1-102; and
195          (ii) including a school district.
196          (4) (a) "Governmental website" means a website on the Internet that is operated by or

197     on behalf of a governmental entity.
198          (b) "Governmental website" includes a court website.
199          (5) "Governmental website operator" means a governmental entity or person acting on
200     behalf of the governmental entity that:
201          (a) operates a governmental website; and
202          (b) collects or maintains personally identifiable information from or about a user of
203     that website.
204          (6) "Personally identifiable information" means information that identifies:
205          (a) a user by:
206          (i) name;
207          (ii) account number;
208          (iii) physical address;
209          (iv) email address;
210          (v) telephone number;
211          (vi) Social Security number;
212          (vii) credit card information; or
213          (viii) bank account information;
214          (b) a user as having requested or obtained specific materials or services from a
215     governmental website;
216          (c) Internet sites visited by a user; or
217          (d) any of the contents of a user's data-storage device.
218          (7) "User" means a person who accesses a governmental website.
219          Section 5. Section 63I-1-226 is amended to read:
220          63I-1-226. Repeal dates: Title 26 through 26B.
221          (1) Section 26-1-7.5, which creates the Utah Health Advisory Council, is repealed July
222     1, 2025.
223          (2) Section 26-1-40 is repealed July 1, 2022.
224          (3) Section 26-1-41 is repealed July 1, 2026.

225          (4) Section 26-1-43 is repealed December 31, 2025.
226          (5) Section 26-7-10 is repealed July 1, 2025.
227          (6) Subsection 26-7-11(5), regarding reports to the Legislature, is repealed July 1,
228     2028.
229          (7) Section 26-7-14 is repealed December 31, 2027.
230          (8) Section 26-8a-603 is repealed July 1, 2027.
231          (9) Title 26, Chapter 9f, Utah Digital Health Service Commission Act, is repealed July
232     1, 2025.
233          (10) Subsection 26-10-6(5), which creates the Newborn Hearing Screening Committee,
234     is repealed July 1, 2026.
235          (11) Section 26-10b-106, which creates the Primary Care Grant Committee, is repealed
236     July 1, 2025.
237          (12) Subsection 26-15c-104(3), relating to a limitation on the number of
238     microenterprise home kitchen permits that may be issued, is repealed July 1, 2022.
239          (13) Subsection 26-18-2.6(9), which addresses reimbursement for dental hygienists, is
240     repealed July 1, 2028.
241          (14) Section 26-18-27 is repealed July 1, 2025.
242          (15) Section 26-18-28 is repealed June 30, 2027.
243          (16) Title 26, Chapter 18, Part 2, Drug Utilization Review Board, is repealed July 1,
244     2027.
245          (17) Subsection 26-18-418(2), the language that states "and the Behavioral Health
246     Crisis Response Commission created in Section 63C-18-202" is repealed July 1, 2023.
247          (18) Section 26-33a-117 is repealed December 31, 2023.
248          (19) Title 26, Chapter 33a, Utah Health Data Authority Act, is repealed July 1, 2024.
249          (20) Title 26, Chapter 36b, Inpatient Hospital Assessment Act, is repealed July 1,
250     2024.
251          (21) Title 26, Chapter 36c, Medicaid Expansion Hospital Assessment Act, is repealed
252     July 1, 2024.

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