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SF1014 • 2021

COVID-19-prohibiting coercion.

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
Senator Biteman
Last action
2021-11-03
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2021

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Stopping Coercion About COVID-19 Vaccines in Workplaces

This act makes it illegal for employers to threaten or intimidate workers based on their COVID-19 vaccination status and updates the law on blackmail.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it against the law for an employer to fire, threaten to fire, or scare a worker based on whether they got a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Adds new rules about blackmail that include threatening someone's job if they don't get a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Allows workers who are hurt by these actions to sue their employers and win money for damages and legal costs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Employers
  • Employees

Terms To Know

Blackmail
When someone threatens to tell a secret or do something bad unless the other person gives them money or does what they want.
Coercion
Forcing someone to do something by threatening them or making them feel scared.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was never considered for introduction.
  • It is unclear how many employers might try to force their workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Bill History

  1. 2021-11-03 Senate

    S Did Not Consider for Introduction

  2. 2021-10-26 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  3. 2021-10-21 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
21LSO-1047
2021
STATE OF WYOMING
21LSO-1047
Numbered
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF1014

COVID-19-prohibiting coercion.

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

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)

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SF1014