New Iowa law leaves some confused - fox42kptm.com
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (KPTM) — New federal guidance is now requiring a COVID-19 jab or weekly testing for certain workers. That's set to go into effect early next year. As some state leaders in the Heartland are promising legal action, however, there is now confusion over what the future is going to look like and how it will affect the workforce.
"Our initial reaction was that the bill signed into law in Iowa recently was going to be problematic," said Mike Ralston.
Ralston, president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, says he's now left to wonder about the future of business and industry.
"We don't know what's next."
State law now makes it easier for anyone who doesn't want a COVID vaccine to be exempt. Governor Reynolds signed that into law last week. According to the fine details, an employee does need to make a formal statement against being vaccinated, but there's no need for confirmation from a doctor or religious leader.
Ralston fears uncertainty will loom, especially as federal guidance came out Thursday mandating a vaccine for businesses with at least 100 people by January 4th. In Iowa, that could affect more than 900,000 people.
Local labor attorney Randy Stevenson sums up the situation as fluid. In a publication Thursday, he says a Safety and Health Act passed in Washington more than 50 years ago allows for a federal mandate like the one released Thursday if the feds can establish the employees are exposed to grave danger.
But one of the issues he says might have to be sorted out in lawsuits is how much of a grave danger there is now considering the decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases. At this point, he can't predict how rulings might go.
On the Nebraska side, Governor Pete Ricketts is vowing to fight back. He said Thusday the attorney general is taking the lead on the state's legal review.
The new federal mandate is expected to affect more than 84 million workers nationwide. It does not apply to businesses with less than 100 staffers and some exemptions are allowed.
source: https://fox42kptm.com/news/local/new-iowa-law-leaves-some-confused
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