SB 651 - Under this act, no private or public employer may require an employee or prospective employee to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of commencing or continuing employment.
Any employee of an employer shall have a cause of action against such employer if:
· The employee is required, as a condition of commencing or continuing employment, to receive a vaccination against COVID-19; or
· The employer discharges, disciplines, retaliates against, fails to promote, or otherwise discriminates against an employee or prospective employee who opposes an employer's requirement to receive any vaccine.
The court shall award damages to any employee adversely affected by an employer's actions, including but not limited to, economic, noneconomic, and punitive damages, as well as back pay or reinstatement, with back pay plus three times the employee's back pay plus fringe benefits or prospective wages and benefits. If the employee is the prevailing party, a court may also require reasonable attorney's fees and court costs of the employee be paid by the employer.
SCOTT SVAGERA