Legislature Sees Bills Broadening Vaccine Exemptions
Montana lawmakers are considering bills to expand who is eligible for vaccine-mandate exemptions in workplaces and schools.
Senate Bill 132 would require employers to allow any employee to claim exemption from workplace vaccine mandates. It has already passed through the state Senate on a party-line vote.
Currently, only employees who have legitimate medical or religious restrictions can be exempt from workplace vaccine requirements. Republican Sen. Keith Regier from Kalispell said the bill aims to prevent discrimination.
“If one subgroup can have an alternative accommodation, then all should be offered the same accommodation, he said.
Representatives of the five Providence hospitals in Montana, and of the Billings Clinic facilities, spoke in opposition to the bill. They said hospital employees are required to get flu shots annually to protect patients. Aimee Grmoljez spoke on behalf of Billings Clinic.
Legislature Sees Bills Broadening Vaccine Exemptions
Montana lawmakers are considering bills to expand who is eligible for vaccine-mandate exemptions in workplaces and schools.
Senate Bill 132 would require employers to allow any employee to claim exemption from workplace vaccine mandates. It has already passed through the state Senate on a party-line vote.
Currently, only employees who have legitimate medical or religious restrictions can be exempt from workplace vaccine requirements. Republican Sen. Keith Regier from Kalispell said the bill aims to prevent discrimination.
“If one subgroup can have an alternative accommodation, then all should be offered the same accommodation, he said.
Representatives of the five Providence hospitals in Montana, and of the Billings Clinic facilities, spoke in opposition to the bill. They said hospital employees are required to get flu shots annually to protect patients. Aimee Grmoljez spoke on behalf of Billings Clinic.
Gov. Gianforte Orders Health Officials To Drop Flathead County COVID Lawsuits
State health officials are dropping lawsuits against five Flathead County businesses. Under former Gov. Steve Bullock the state alleged the bars, restaurants and convenience stores flouted state COVID-19 directives. The reversal comes at the direction of Gov. Greg Gianforte.
Late last year the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services sued five businesses in Flathead County. The state argued they knowingly and egregiously ignored state directives aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, particularly the mask mandate.
Gov. Greg Gianforte delivers his State of the State address, January 28, 2021.