The Idaho House has passed a bill to ban vaccine passports in the state.
In a statement from House Republicans, they said that the aim of the bill is to “ensure that all Idahoans, regardless of vaccination status, can access state services, buildings, or jobs.”
“Our government exists to serve every single Idahoan – regardless of the medical choices they make,” Assistant Majority Leader Jason Monks said in a statement. “This bill will make sure that our government is accessible to everyone equally. The Legislature has made absolutely clear that we’re not going to allow vaccine passports or mandates in Idaho; this bill codifies that policy into law.”
The text of House Bill 708 states that it “amends existing law to provide that a person shall not be required to be vaccinated for coronavirus or have a vaccine passport to apply for or receive government services, to enter or remain in a government venue, or to be hired by the state or maintain employment with the state.”
It says that no person shall be required to receive a coronavirus vaccination, have a vaccine passport, or provide proof of any other form of coronavirus immunization or negative laboratory test result for coronavirus in order to:
(a) Apply for or receive services provided by the state or a political subdivision of the state;
(b) Enter or remain in a government venue during a time when the venue is accessible to the general public; or
(c) Be hired by the state or maintain employment with the state. An employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state may not be discriminated against on the basis of such employee’s immunization status, including decisions relating to promotion, compensation, or job duties.However, the state may require:
(i) An employee who has previously tested positive for coronavirus to provide a negative laboratory test result for coronavirus in order to return to work;
(ii) An employee to be tested for coronavirus if the employee was potentially exposed to coronavirus during the course and scope of
employment; or
(iii) Coronavirus vaccination for an employee whose job duties include:
1. Travel to a state, territory, or country that requires such vaccination; or
2. Entry into a private location that requires such vaccination.