CSSB 156(HSS): "An Act relating to COVID-19 immunization rights; relating to objection to the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine; relating to COVID-19 vaccination status and eligibility for health care insurance; and providing for an effective date."
00 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 156(HSS) 01 "An Act relating to COVID-19 immunization rights; relating to objection to the 02 administration of a COVID-19 vaccine; relating to COVID-19 vaccination status and 03 eligibility for health care insurance; and providing for an effective date." 04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 05 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 06 to read: 07 LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the legislature that every person should 08 have the right to choose their own medical interventions because art. I, sec. 22, of the 09 Constitution of the State of Alaska protects a person's right to privacy. 10 * Sec. 2. AS 18.09 is amended by adding new sections to read: 11 Article 2A. COVID-19 Immunization Rights; Discrimination. 12 Sec. 18.09.250. Exercise of rights and access to benefits. A state agency or 13 political subdivision of the state may not adopt or issue a regulation, ordinance, order, 14 or similar policy that requires an individual to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in
01 order for the individual to exercise a right or receive a benefit that is available to the 02 public. 03 Sec. 18.09.260. Personal vaccine history. A state agency, an employee of the 04 state, or an agent of the state may not require an individual to produce documentation 05 of the individual's COVID-19 vaccination status or a COVID-19 immunity passport in 06 order to travel to, or within, the state. 07 Sec. 18.09.270. Discrimination based on vaccination status. (a) Except as 08 provided in (b) of this section, it is unlawful discrimination for 09 (1) a person or a governmental entity to refuse, withhold from, or deny 10 to an individual any local or state services, goods, facilities, advantages, privileges, 11 licensing, educational opportunities, health care access, or employment opportunities 12 based on the individual's COVID-19 vaccination status or whether the individual has a 13 COVID-19 immunity passport; 14 (2) an employer to refuse employment to an individual, to bar an 15 individual from employment, or to discriminate against an individual in compensation 16 or in a term, condition, or privilege of employment based on the individual's 17 COVID-19 vaccination status or whether the individual has a COVID-19 immunity 18 passport; or 19 (3) a public accommodation to exclude, limit, segregate, refuse to 20 serve, or otherwise discriminate against an individual based on the individual's 21 COVID-19 vaccination status or whether the individual has a COVID-19 immunity 22 passport. 23 (b) A recommendation by a person, governmental entity, or employer that an 24 employee receive a COVID-19 vaccine is not unlawful discrimination under this 25 section. 26 Sec. 18.09.280. Objection to the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine. 27 An individual may object to the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine to that 28 individual based on religious, medical, or other grounds. A parent or guardian of a 29 minor child may object to the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine to the minor 30 child based on religious, medical, or other grounds. A person may not require an 31 individual to provide justification or documentation to support the individual's
01 decision to decline a COVID-19 vaccine or to decline a COVID-19 vaccine for a 02 minor child. 03 Sec. 18.09.290. Definition. In AS 18.09.250 - 18.09.290, "COVID-19" means 04 the novel coronavirus disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome 05 coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). 06 * Sec. 3. AS 21.54.100(a) is amended to read: 07 (a) A health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, delivers, or renews a 08 health care insurance plan in the group market may not establish rules for eligibility, 09 including continued eligibility and waiting periods under the plan, for an individual or 10 dependent of an individual based on 11 (1) health status; 12 (2) medical condition, including physical and mental illnesses; 13 (3) claims experience; 14 (4) receipt of health care; 15 (5) medical history; 16 (6) genetic information; 17 (7) evidence of insurability, including conditions arising from acts of 18 domestic violence; [OR] 19 (8) disability; or 20 (9) the individual's COVID-19 vaccination status; in this 21 paragraph, "COVID-19" has the meaning given in AS 18.09.290. 22 * Sec. 4. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).