Suing Schools Over Vaccine Rules? Why One State鈥檚 Legislature Passed New Law
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Public schools and government agencies that require COVID-19 vaccinations could face lawsuits from anyone barred entry for failing to comply, according to a proposal the Louisiana Legislature approved Monday.
, authored by Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall, passed the House and Senate after multiple rounds of amendments. Bagley, a retired educator, chairs the House Health and Welfare Committee.
The bill passed by a 58-32 vote in the Louisiana House of Representatives and by a 27-5 vote in the Louisiana Senate.
Originally, Bagley鈥檚 legislation would have made it a crime to deny someone entry based on their vaccination status in Louisiana with a fine of up to $1,000 with the possibility of up to six months in jail time. The bill was amended to make vaccination status discrimination a cause for civil action and not a crime. The jail time was also removed through an amendment, but the $1,000 fine remained on the version the House approved Monday.
It also applied to restaurants, hotels and other areas of the private sector until .
The bill also originally applied to all types of vaccination but was narrowed to only apply to the COVID-19 shot.
鈥淭his bill is really designed to be one of free choice and also (protect against) discriminating against those that choose not to have the vaccine,鈥� said Sen. Barry Milligan, R-Shreveport, who brought the bill to the Senate floor.
The Louisiana Department of Health lists vaccinations for measles, polio, meningitis and other illnesses as required for students to attend K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions, but parents or guardians can submit a waiver to exclude their children from the requirement.
is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jarvis DeBerry for questions: info@lailluminator.com. Follow Louisiana Illuminator on and .
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