Indiana House Passes Bill To Limit Employer Vaccine Mandates

The Indiana House has passed a controversial bill that would restrict employers who mandate the COVID-19 vaccine, sending it to the Senate for consideration.

The bill passed 57-35, largely along party lines. Republican Reps. Ed Clere, Cindy Ziemke, J. Michael Davisson, Mike Aylesworth, Tom Saunders, Curt Nisly and John Jacob joined Democrats in voting against the measure.

House Bill 1001 would also put in place administrative tools that Gov. Eric Holcomb has said could allow him to end the statewide public health emergency. The provisions mean Indiana could keep receiving federal funding for Medicaid expenses and food assistance programs even without an emergency order in place. The bill would also allow the state health commissioner to issue a standing doctor’s order allowing pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5 to 11.

The bill would force employers who require the COVID-19 vaccine to provide a religious exemption to any employee who requests one and to provide medical exemptions to anyone with a signed note from a doctor, physician’s assistant or advanced practice registered nurse who says the vaccine is medically contraindicated for the employee.

Employees could also choose to undergo regular COVID-19 testing—at no cost to the employee—rather than being vaccinated. Employers would be able apply for a reimbursement from the state for the cost of testing through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Read the full article from the Indianapolis Business Journal here.