By Bob Katzen

The Emergency Preparedness and Management Committee held a hearing on legislation that would prohibit the state, cities and towns from requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of entry to any public buildings including state and local government buildings, all public and private schools and colleges and private businesses.

“We put the bill forward to prevent public entities from requiring vaccination for entry into public buildings,” said Sponsor Rep. Peter Durant (R-Spencer). “This includes schools of any types. We have heard from a number of concerned parents that their children were not being allowed to attend college or other schools unless they were vaccinated. This created a devastating situation in which students and parents had to make a choice between getting something they may not have wanted and getting an education that they need. We believe that this creates a problem within the 14th amendment Privileges and Immunity Clause, as well as the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution.