The House of Representatives in Frankfort, Kentucky, on Feb. 27, 2024. Photo by Arden Barnes. Photo courtesy of Kentucky Lantern.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Senate Bill 132, which would allow healthcare providers to refuse to provide services based on religious or moral beliefs, passed the Kentucky Senate earlier this week.
The seven-page bill would give healthcare professionals the right to refuse to participate “in any health care service which violates [their] conscience,” which the bill defines as a “sincerely held religious, moral, or ethical principles,” and will not be “civilly, criminally, or administratively liable” due to their refusal, nor shall they “face discrimination” for refusing participation.
The bill specifies that “the right of conscience is limited to conscience-based objections to a particular health care service [and] shall not be construed to waive or modify any duty a health care professional or health care institution may have to provide other health care services that do not violate the professional’s or institution’s conscience.”
According to the Legislative Research Commission, two Senate amendments were filed, one of which “prohibit a requirement for any individual to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for the purposes of student enrollment in any medical program or to receive medical treatment in the Commonwealth.”
Senate Bill 132 passed the Senate by a 26 to 6 vote. Barren County Senator David Givens voted “yea,” according to the commission. At the time of publication, the bill had been given to the House Committee on Health Services.
Since Senate Bill 132 also declares an emergency, which means it would go into effect upon its passage — whether that be by the governor’s signature or a veto override by the legislature.
The full bill can be read here.
Comments