2023 -- H 5916

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LC001966

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATE

PROHIBITED

     Introduced By: Representatives J. Brien, Corvese, Cardillo, Place, Noret, and Phillips

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 99

COVID-19 IMMUNIZATION MANDATE PROHIBITED

     23-99-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “COVID-19 Immunization Mandate

Prohibited”.

     23-99-2. COVID-19 immunization mandate by governmental entity prohibited.

     (a) No governmental entity shall implement, require or otherwise enforce a COVID-19

immunization mandate.

     (b) For purposes of this section, a "governmental entity" means any executive, legislative,

judicial, regulatory, or administrative body of the state, or any political subdivision thereof;

including, but not limited to: any department, division, agency, commission, board, office, bureau,

authority; any school, fire, or water district, or other agency of Rhode Island state or local

government that exercises governmental functions; any authority as defined in § 42-35-1; or any

other public or private agency, person, partnership, corporation, or business entity acting on behalf

of and/or in place of any public agency.

     23-99-3. Complaint.

     (a) Any individual who believes that a governmental entity has violated the provisions of

§§ 23-99-2 or 23-99-4 may file a complaint with the office of the attorney general in the manner

prescribed by the office of the attorney general.

     (b) The office of the attorney general shall investigate all complaints filed pursuant to

subsection (a) of this section. The office of the attorney general may also investigate any

governmental entity that the attorney general has reason to believe has violated §§ 23-99-2 or 23-

99-4.

     (c) If the office of the attorney general determines that a violation of §§ 23-99-2 or 23-99-

4 has occurred, the office of the attorney general may issue a civil penalty against the governmental

entity in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation payable to the

agrieved individual.

     23-99-4. Discrimination and civil or criminal penalties prohibited.

     A governmental entity shall not discriminate against any individual or issue a civil or

criminal penalty upon any individual for refusing any COVID-19 vaccination.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATE

PROHIBITED

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     This act would prohibit any governmental entity from mandating the COVID-19

vaccination, or from discriminating against any individual or issuing a civil or criminal penalty

upon any individual for refusing any COVID-19 vaccination with enforcement by the attorney

general by way of a civil penalty payable to the individual.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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