Amended Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act Headed to Governor's Desk

The Illinois Senate passed a measure Thursday night that would give employers greater authority to enforce COVID-19 vaccine or testing requirements.

Senate Bill 1169 was opposed by local State Senators Darren Bailey and Jason Plummer.

The vote in the Senate was 31-24. The measure needed 30 votes to pass.

The House approved the changes in the measure after 10pm Wednesday on a vote of 64-52 with two "present" votes. Enough Democrats peeled support for it to fail to meet the three-fifths majority that would allow it to become law before June 1, 2022.

The measure now goes to the Governor, who has indicated he supports it. 

House Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 1169 would amend the Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which currently prohibits discrimination against anyone for their "conscientious refusal to receive, obtain, accept, perform, assist, counsel, suggest, recommend, refer or participate in any way in any particular form of health care services contrary to his or her conscience."

The amendment inserts language stating that it is not a violation of the law for an employer "to take any measures or impose any requirements...intended to prevent contraction or transmission of COVID-19."

Proponents of the amendment argued in committee and on the floor that it's needed to strengthen vaccine mandates by allowing employers to enforce them.

Sen Bailey was harshly critical of the measure and the efforts to get it enacted...

More than 50,000 witness slips were filed against the measure on the Illinois General Assembly website.

Sen Plummer said, "Senate Bill 1169 is a direct assault on an individual’s right to make healthcare decisions for themselves. The Governor can’t stand the fact that the people of Illinois have had enough of his mandates and are standing up for their rights. However, as per usual, Democrat lawmakers would rather silence the people of this state and chose to weaken a long-standing law put in place to protect the citizens of the state from having healthcare services forced upon them. It’s a sad day when someone’s moral or religious beliefs are overshadowed by one party’s continued pursuit of total control.”