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PRINTER'S NO. 2292
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1986
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY SCHEMEL, RYAN, RAPP, COX, GROVE, R. BROWN, JONES,
HERSHEY, SCHLEGEL CULVER, MOUL, GLEIM, HAMM, MALONEY,
ZIMMERMAN, KAUFFMAN AND MILLARD, OCTOBER 22, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, OCTOBER 22, 2021
AN ACT
Providing for exemption to COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the COVID-19
Vaccine Exemption Options Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"COVID-19." The coronavirus disease 2019, an infectious
disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
2 that was first identified during December 2019 in Wuhan,
China.
"COVID-19 vaccine." A vaccine for COVID-19 that has received
an emergency use authorization or approval from the United
States Food and Drug Administration.
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"Government entity." The Governor, a State agency, a State
board or commission, the General Assembly, a legislative agency,
a court of the Commonwealth or any other entity or office of the
unified judicial system, a county executive or a governing body
of a political subdivision.
"Place of public accommodation." A facility or location that
is open to the public without regard to whether a member of the
public intends to purchase an item or procure a service at the
facility or location.
"Political subdivision." Any county, city, borough,
incorporated town, township, school district, intermediate unit,
vocational school district or county institution district.
"Private entity." A for-profit or not-for-profit entity or
organization that is open to the public at large or operates a
workplace for employees of the entity or organization.
Section 3. Exemption to COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
Except as otherwise provided under Federal law, a private
entity, government entity or place of public accommodation that
is required by a State or local regulation, order, ordinance or
other directive to impose a COVID-19 vaccine requirement on any
employee, customer, patron, client, agent, invitee, patient or
other individual may exempt the same from the COVID-19 vaccine
requirement if the employee, customer, patron, client, agent,
invitee, patient or other individual furnishes any of the
following:
(1) Proof from a physician of being previously infected
with COVID-19 within one year from the date when the COVID-19
vaccine requirement applies to the individual.
(2) Serology test results verifying that the individual
possesses COVID-19 antibodies.
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(3) Negative test results from a COVID-19 test
administered within 14 days from the date when the COVID-19
vaccine requirement applies to the individual. If the
individual has regular and ongoing contact with the private
entity, government entity or place of public accommodation,
the private entity, government entity or place of public
accommodation may require the individual to submit negative
test results from a COVID-19 test every 14 days.
Section 4. Expiration.
This act shall expire November 30, 2024.
Section 5. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
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