SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Employees may soon not be able to cite religious reasons for objecting to COVID-19 vaccine mandates from their employers.
State legislators are expected to take up a measure this week that would drop religious exemptions from employer-required COVID vaccines.
The Health Care Right of Conscience Act has been used by some people who are trying to avoid COVID vaccine orders by governments or private companies. Now, according to the Sun-Times, State Representative Robyn Gabel has proposed an amendment in which people could not cite moral or religious beliefs as a valid reason for not complying with their employers vaccine mandate.
A statement from the governor said the Right of Conscience Act was "never intended to allow people to avoid public health guidance and jeopardize workplace safety during a global pandemic."
The statement goes on to say, "The administration supports efforts to clarify the law, so it cannot be misinterpreted by fringe elements."
According to the Sun-Times, under the amendment, it’s not a violation of the law for any public official, public or private association, agency or employer to “take any measures or impose any requirements,” including those that involve provision of services by a physician or health care personnel “intended to prevent contraction or transmission of COVID-19 or any pathogens that result in COVID-19 or any of its subsequent iterations.”
The amendment goes on to say it’s not a violation of the Health Care Right of Conscience Act to enforce the measure through “terminating employment or excluding individuals from a school, a place of employment, or public or private premises in response to noncompliance.”
If passed, the updated legislation will go into effect immediately.
Related
