Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that exempts employees from federal vaccine mandates including the COVID-19 vaccine.

Highlights:

• Alleges the General Assembly attempts to do the following (Sec. 1.b):

• Protect employees in Arkansas from impending terminations due to vaccination mandates; and

• Create the ability for funding to be available to assist employees in Arkansas with the costs associated with testing related to the vaccination mandate through the methods provided in this act, including without limitation coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) relief funds distributed from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

• Requires an employer that mandates vaccination or immunization for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) or its variants for its employees to provide a specific exemption process (Sec. 2.a).

• Specifies the exemption process includes options that allows the employee to produce either (Sec. 2.b):

• A negative antigen detection test result or molecular diagnostic test result no more than 1 time per week showing that the employee is not positive for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19); or

• Proof of immunity for the virus that causes coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) or its variants, including without limitation the presence of antibodies, T cell response, or proof of a positive coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) or its variants test, on a basis of 2 times per year, not to exceed 1 time every 6 months, from a licensed healthcare provider.

• Specifies if multiple proven test processes are available to an employee, the employee may choose which test to take (Sec. 2.c-1).

• Authorizes the employee to provide test results obtained outside of the employer or a licensed healthcare provider if the test meets the guidelines contained within the Policy for Coronavirus Disease-2019 Tests During the Public Health Emergency (Revised) issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health (Sec. 2.c-2).

• Specifies if an employee complies with the requirements of the specific exemption process related to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) as required by this law, the employee will not be terminated for mandates related to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) (Sec. 2.e).

• Requires the Department of Finance and Administration shall establish rules regarding the method of distribution of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to employees and employers to cover the cost of testing, to include without limitation the (Sec. 2.g):

• Timely distribution of funds to recipients within 30 days;

• Establishment of an option for distribution to an employer that chooses to receive funds for disbursement to employees; and

• Verification and method of authentication of receipts that will meet legislative auditing requirements, including without limitation the development of forms.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that exempts employees from federal vaccine mandates including the COVID-19 vaccine.

Highlights:

• Alleges the General Assembly attempts to do the following (Sec. 1.b):

• Protect employees in Arkansas from impending terminations due to vaccination mandates; and

• Create the ability for funding to be available to assist employees in Arkansas with the costs associated with testing related to the vaccination mandate through the methods provided in this act, including without limitation coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) relief funds distributed from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

• Requires an employer that mandates vaccination or immunization for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) or its variants for its employees to provide a specific exemption process (Sec. 2.a).

• Specifies the exemption process includes options that allows the employee to produce either (Sec. 2.b):

• A negative antigen detection test result or molecular diagnostic test result no more than 1 time per week showing that the employee is not positive for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19); or

• Proof of immunity for the virus that causes coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) or its variants, including without limitation the presence of antibodies, T cell response, or proof of a positive coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) or its variants test, on a basis of 2 times per year, not to exceed 1 time every 6 months, from a licensed healthcare provider.

• Specifies if multiple proven test processes are available to an employee, the employee may choose which test to take (Sec. 2.c-1).

• Authorizes the employee to provide test results obtained outside of the employer or a licensed healthcare provider if the test meets the guidelines contained within the Policy for Coronavirus Disease-2019 Tests During the Public Health Emergency (Revised) issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration Center for Devices and Radiological Health (Sec. 2.c-2).

• Specifies if an employee complies with the requirements of the specific exemption process related to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) as required by this law, the employee will not be terminated for mandates related to coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) (Sec. 2.e).

• Requires the Department of Finance and Administration shall establish rules regarding the method of distribution of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to employees and employers to cover the cost of testing, to include without limitation the (Sec. 2.g):

• Timely distribution of funds to recipients within 30 days;

• Establishment of an option for distribution to an employer that chooses to receive funds for disbursement to employees; and

• Verification and method of authentication of receipts that will meet legislative auditing requirements, including without limitation the development of forms.

Full Bill Text