House Committee Passes Bills Seeking To Protect Those Who Decline Vaccines

By JC Canicosa, Louisiana Illuminator

May 17, 2021

The Louisiana House Civil Law and Procedure Committee unanimously advanced a bill from Danny McCormick’s (R-Oil City) that protects business owners who “refuse to mandate a COVID-19 vaccination or immunization for any employee or customer” and prohibits state agencies from denying a business an operational license because that business hasn’t mandated vaccination for its employees or customers.

McCormick acknowledged that he hasn’t heard of any state agencies withholding licences because the businesses haven’t mandated vaccinations, but, he said, “those threats have been made.”

“There are no specific conversations — locally or, as far as I know, in other parishes, but I can’t speak for other parishes — about mandating vaccinations,” Monika Gerhart, director of state relations for the City of New Orleans, testified Monday.

She said New Orleans officials oppose the bill because “local governments are opposed to preemptive legislation” and the possible “cooling effect” it could have on vaccine willingness.

The committee, on an 8-3 vote, also advanced a bill that prohibits state or local governments from distinguishing between vaccinated and unvaccinated residents.

Rep. Kathy Edmonston (R-Gonzales), who sponsored HB 498, said she introduced her bill because of “numerous calls from students, parents and citizens in Louisiana related to required or mandated COVID vaccines and testing.”

“They felt that the coercive nature of the communication they received (from their schools) impacted their own right to make medical decisions for themselves,” Edmonston said to the committee.

As reported by the LSU Manship School News Service last month, the LSU Faculty Senate voted 52-1 April 28 for a resolution asking LSU to make the COVID-19 vaccine required for students returning to campus in the fall. But interim LSU president Tom Galligan said that there would be no mandate while the vaccine is still under emergency use authorization.

Edomonston’s bill bill does not apply to immunization requirements in schools or hospitals.

Her bill and McCormick’s both bills move to the House floor.

The Louisiana Illuminator is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization driven by its mission to cast light on how decisions are made in Baton Rouge and how they affect the lives of everyday Louisianians, particularly those who are poor or otherwise marginalized.