Bill > SF180

This bill provides legal protections for individuals who wish to refuse certain medical services based on reasons of conscience, including religious convictions. Specifically, the bill allows individuals to decline medical services that have either been declared a countermeasure under the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act or received an emergency use authorization from the FDA. The legislation prohibits businesses, employers, healthcare providers, public officials, and other entities from taking adverse actions against individuals who choose to refuse such medical services, including denying employment, terminating employment, refusing services, segregating individuals, imposing penalties, or discriminating against them. If an entity violates these protections, an affected individual can file a civil lawsuit seeking injunctive relief, a declaratory judgment, and damages. The bill defines "medical service" broadly to include biologics, vaccines, drugs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, gene therapies, and DNA or RNA-based products. In legal proceedings, courts may award reasonable attorney fees, court costs, and either treble damages or two hundred dollars, whichever is greater, providing a strong mechanism to enforce the proposed protections.

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https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF180