(INDIANAPOLIS) – The House has passed the bill limiting employer vaccine mandates.
The bill requires employers to honor requests for religious exemptions or documented medical exemptions, but even workers who submit neither of those requests couldn’t be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The most a company could do is require employees to be tested for COVID up to once a week, the same option included in President Biden’s since-blocked vaccine order.
The bill also bans vaccine mandates outright in public schools or universities, closing a gap in a ban on government vaccine passports approved last year. That provision would nullify Indiana University’s vaccine requirement for students and staff.
House Majority Leader Matt Lehman (R-Berne) insists he’s not discouraging the vaccine, though he argues a survey finding 71% of doctors recommend the vaccine booster indicates there’s still disagreement in the medical community. Lehman says he’s been vaccinated himself, but says people have had months to get vaccinated, and if they haven’t by now, they’re not going to. He says he’s fielded calls from people in tears because they don’t want the vaccine but are frightened of losing their jobs. He argues they’re entitled to make their choice for themselves.
Indianapolis Democrat Ed DeLaney charges people objecting to vaccine requirements are painting themselves as victims. He says the real victims are those who have gotten sick or died, and the hospitals and health care workers stretched past their limits by thousands of patients, 90% of them unvaccinated.
And House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) complains the state will end up spending tax dollars to reimburse businesses for the cost of testing.
Health care workers would still have to get vaccinated even if the bill becomes law. The Supreme Court last week upheld a federal vaccine requirement for hospitals, while blocking a separate order for other businesses.
Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting no, though Indianapolis Republican John Jacob opposed the bill because he says it doesn’t go far enough. He says the testing requirement shouldn’t be allowed either, and warns there aren’t any penalties if companies defy the new rules.
The bill will go to the Senate next month.
