Florida probes 43 'entities' under COVID 'vaccine passport' law, but no fines issued yet - Orlando Sentinel

Florida is investigating 43 businesses or governments for possibly violating the state’s 2-week-old COVID “vaccine passport” law, but no one has yet been issued a $5,000 fine, health officials said Thursday.

Khoury did not provide specifics on who was being investigated, despite a public-records request seeking that information submitted by the Orlando Sentinel on Sept. 16.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has said he received a letter last week from the state threatening the county with fines for mandating employee vaccinations. He has vowed to fight the law, which forbids businesses and governments from requiring proof of vaccination from their customers.

The Department of Health is responsible for enforcing the $5,000 per violation fine under a law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis this year. Fines started Sept. 16.

Since the pandemic began early last year, Florida has recorded more than 3.5 million coronavirus cases and about 54,000 deaths.

Guillermo Smith added he knows of businesses that are requiring vaccinations for customers but did not want to name them.

Under the rules set up by the department, it would issue a notice of violation to anyone who violates the law, which will include the right to a hearing before an administrative law judge. The fines would be due to the department within 30 days of a final order.

“Vaccine passports reduce individual freedom and harm patient privacy,” she said. “Allowing businesses and educational institutions to require vaccine passports as a condition of entry or service would entrench an unfair, two-tiered society.”

source: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bz-vaccine-passport-business-enforcement-20210930-vnnre67d2nda7oy3wrnhjmecpm-story.html

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