The Florida House of Representatives voted to approve a bill that would permanently outlaw the use of vaccine passports by businesses during the coronavirus pandemic.
SB 2006 passed the chamber by a vote of 76-40, Fox 13 Tampa Bay reported Thursday. Pandemics & Public Health Emergencies Committee Chair Tom Leek said that the law strikes a “delicate balance between protecting people and protecting people’s civil liberties,” according to the outlet.
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order earlier in April that outlawed vaccine passports and other forms of vaccine status and identification.
Florida House Passes Bill Banning Businesses From Requiring COVID ‘Vaccine Passports’ https://t.co/LLuq9jXin1
— NBC 6 South Florida (@nbc6) April 29, 2021
“We must recognize that vaccine hesitancy is real and understandable.” Chairman Leek said, also encouraging those to get vaccinated if they wished to. “But recognize that it is fair for a certain segment of our community to be hesitant about getting the vaccine,” he continued.
The bill would ban all business, government and educational facilities from requiring “patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or post-infection recovery.” It would also grant certain government departments the power to issue a fine of no more than $5,000 per violation. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Republicans To Propose Bill Which Would Block Jurisdictions From Implementing Vaccine Passports)
Arizona, Utah, and More States Join Texas and Florida in Banning Vaccine Passports https://t.co/fPcPFFHIje
— Travel + Leisure (@TravelLeisure) April 23, 2021
The Florida Senate passed the bill last week, but due to the changes made by the House, the Senate must vote on it again, Fox 13 reported.
A growing contingent of states is voting to restrict or completely outlaw the use of vaccination passports. Montana and Texas are the latest to do so.