MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency; Education
By: Senator(s) Sojourner, McDaniel
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS FROM REQUIRING ANTI-COVID VACCINES OR FACE COVERINGS; TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON A PERSON'S VACCINATION STATUS; TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT REQUIRE A PERSON TO RECEIVE AN ANTI-COVID VACCINE OR TO WEAR A FACE COVERING; TO PROVIDE FOR EXCEPTIONS TO WHAT SHALL BE CONSIDERED AN UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) Except as otherwise provided by law, a school district or other political subdivision shall not require a person to receive any anti-Covid vaccine or to mandate any face covering requirement.
(2) This section shall not apply to:
(a) Vaccination requirements set forth for schools pursuant to Sections 41-23-37 and 43-20-8;
(b) A facility operated by the Department or Corrections or the Division of Youth Services of the Department of Human Services; or
(c) A state-owned or state-controlled healthcare facility.
(3) It shall not be considered an unlawful discriminatory practice for a school district or other political subdivision to implement reasonable accommodation measures for employees, patients, visitors and other persons who are not vaccinated or not immune to protect the safety and health of employees, patients, visitors and other persons from communicable diseases.
(4) Except as provided in this section, it is an unlawful discriminatory practice for:
(a) A school district or other political subdivision to refuse, withhold from or deny a person any local or state services, goods, facilities, advantages, privileges, licensing, educational opportunities, health care access or employment opportunities based on the person's vaccination status or failure or refusal to wear a face covering;
(b) A school district or other political subdivision to refuse employment to a person, to bar a person from employment, or to discriminate against a person in compensation or in a term, condition, or privilege of employment based on the person's vaccination status or failure or refusal to wear a face covering; or
(c) A public accommodation operated by a school district or other political subdivision to exclude, limit, segregate, refuse to serve or otherwise discriminate against a person based on the person's vaccination status or failure or refusal to wear a face covering.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.