Three Ring Circus
The three-ring circus known as the special legislative session on Covid 19 has ended. Instead of helping Floridians keep safe from the virus, the result was to block businesses and local governments from mandating accepted mitigating efforts such as masks and vaccines.
Four bills were passed during the session.
They are:
HB 1B – This was the main bill that prohibits business and local governments from mandating vaccines for employees and also prohibits school boards from mandating masks and quarantines for students. https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=74089
CS/HB 3B – Exempts from the Sunshine Law any employee complaint regarding Covid 19 vaccine mandates.
https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=74091
HB 5B – Requires the governor to develop a plan to create a state form of OSHA and pull Florida out of the federal program.
https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=74090
HB 7B – Removes the authority of the state health officer (surgeon general) to mandate vaccines in a declared health emergency.
https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=74087
As expected our two Republican house members Scott Plakon and David Smith voted in favor of all four bills. In fact, Rep. Plakon was so enamored with the bills that he signed on as co-sponsor to all four. Of course, Joy Goff-Marcil voted against all four. On the senate side there were four bills that were identical to the house bills and were merged with the house versions before the final vote. Jason Brodeur voted in favor of all four.