On November 21, 2021, Governor DeSantis signed several bills into law including HB 1B. That bill allows employers to require vaccinations but provides exemptions – like prohibiting schools from having vaccine mandates.
The legislation also “prohibits educational institutions and local officials from mandating vaccines for students. To be clear, “educational institution” includes any institution controlled by a district school board, a charter school, a state university, a developmental research school, a Florida College System institution, the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, and the Florida Virtual School,” Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran.
According to an FDOE press release, In Florida, effective immediately:
✓ Educational institutions may not require students to be COVID-19 vaccinated.
✓ School districts may not have school face mask policies.
✓ School districts may not quarantine healthy students.
✓ Students and parents may sue violating school districts and recover costs and attorney’s fees.
✓ Private Employer COVID-19 vaccine mandates are prohibited.
‣ Employees can choose from numerous exemptions, including but not limited to, health or religious concerns; pregnancy or anticipated future pregnancy; and past recovery from COVID-19.
‣ Employees can choose to opt for periodic testing or PPE as an exemption.
‣ Employers must cover the costs of testing and PPE exemptions for employees.
✓ Employers who violate these employee health protections will be fined.
‣ Small businesses (99 employees or less) will face $10,000 per employee violation.
‣ Medium and big businesses will face $50,000 per employee violation.
✓ Government entities may not require COVID-19 vaccinations of anyone, including employees.