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HB1014 • 2021

COVID-19-prohibiting coercion-2.

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; amending the elements of the crime of blackmail as specified; prohibiting coercion or intimidation in employment due to an employee's COVID 19 vaccination status; providing remedies; and providing for an effective date.

Labor
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Representative Haroldson
Last action
2021-11-03
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2021

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was never considered for introduction, so it has no effective date.

Law Against Coercion and Intimidation About COVID-19 Vaccines in Workplaces

This law stops employers from firing or threatening employees because of their COVID-19 vaccination status, and it changes the definition of blackmail to include threats related to getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds new rules that say employers cannot fire, threaten, or scare workers because of their COVID-19 vaccination status.
  • Allows people who are hurt by these actions to get help from courts and receive money if they win the case.
  • Changes the definition of blackmail to include threats about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Employers
  • Employees

Terms To Know

Blackmail
When someone threatens to do something bad unless they get what they want, like money or a favor.
Coercion
Forcing or pressuring someone to do something against their will.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was never considered for introduction.
  • It is unclear how many employers might try to force employees about vaccine status without this law.

Bill History

  1. 2021-11-03 House

    H Did Not Consider for Introduction

  2. 2021-10-22 House

    H Received for Introduction

  3. 2021-10-21 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
21LSO-1048
2021
STATE OF WYOMING
21LSO-1048
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB1014

COVID-19-prohibiting coercion-2.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Haroldson, Bear, Jennings, Neiman and Rodriguez-Williams and Senator(s) Biteman, Hutchings, Salazar and Steinmetz

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; amending the elements of the crime of blackmail as specified; prohibiting coercion or intimidation in employment due to an employee's COVID 19 vaccination status; providing remedies; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 27
‑
1
‑
117 is created to read:

27
‑
1
‑
117.

Prohibiting blackmail and coercion based on COVID
‑
19 vaccination status in employment; remedies.

(a)

As used in this section:

(i)

"COVID
‑
19" means as defined by W.S. 1
‑
1
‑
141(a)(ii);

(ii)

"COVID
‑
19 immunity passport" means a document, digital record or software application that evidences that a person has received a COVID
‑
19 vaccination or that a person has recovered from an active COVID
‑
19 infection;

(iii)

"COVID
‑
19 vaccination" means any vaccine that is marketed to prevent COVID
‑
19 or any vaccine that is marketed to diminish or decrease the symptoms of COVID
‑
19;

(iv)

"COVID
‑
19 vaccination status" means evidence of whether a person has received one (1) or more
doses of a COVID
‑
19 vaccine and shall include a COVID
‑
19 immunity passport.

(b)

No person shall discharge, threaten to discharge, intimidate, blackmail or coerce any employee by reason of the employee's COVID
‑
19 vaccination status.

(c)

Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section:

(i)

May be enjoined from further violations of subsection (b) of this section in order to provide other appropriate relief, including but not limited to reinstatement of the employee;

(ii)

Is liable for exemplary damages to the employee in an amount set by the court, but not to exceed forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00) for each violation as to each employee; and

(iii)

Is liable for the employee's reasonable costs and attorney fees, as set by the court, for enforcing his rights under this section.

Section 2.

W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
402 by creating a new subsection (f) is amended to read:

6
‑
2
‑
402.

Blackmail; aggravated blackmail; penalties.

(f)

A person commits blackmail if, with the intent to compel another person to receive a COVID
‑
19 vaccination, the person threatens the livelihood, immediate or future employment or educational opportunities of the person. As used in this subsection, "COVID
‑
19 vaccination" means any vaccine that is marketed to prevent COVID
‑
19 or any vaccine that is marketed to diminish or decrease the symptoms of COVID
‑
19.

Section 3
.

This act is
effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
HB1014