ALABAMA, USA — On Monday, Governor Kay Ivey signed Senate Bill 267 banning vaccine passports in Alabama.
Vaccine passports are a digital or paper record showing you've had the COVID-19 vaccine.
Now, businesses and government buildings in the state cannot require people to show proof they are vaccinated.
Senate Bill 267, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, also prevents colleges from requiring COVID vaccines for students to return to campus.
The Alabama Department of Public Health says K-12 school systems can continue to require proof of immunization.
ADPH released this statement to WZDX News on Monday:
The Act precludes any business or governmental entity from requiring an individual to provide proof of immunization in order to receive goods or services. Schools have always required proof of immunization or a valid exemption therefrom in order for students to attend, and schools may continue to require such proof, provided the school implemented a requirement prior to January 1, 2021, for each specific vaccine.
SB267 would leave in place any requirements for vaccinations that were already in place on Jan. 1, 2021, but any new requirements for vaccinations, for COVID-19 or for other conditions, would be banned.
SB267 passed the House on a 76 to 16 vote. The Senate voted to concur with the House changes in a 29 to 0 vote.
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