Wyoming lawmakers to mull penalties for requiring vaccines

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Requiring workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 would result in up to $10 million in fines and at least $500,000 in damages under bills Wyoming lawmakers will consider in a rare special session that began Tuesday.

In all, they plan to look at 20 proposals — including a few having nothing to do with President Joe Biden's plans to require COVID-19 vaccination for certain workers — over the next several days after legislators debated whether to adjourn without considering anything at all.

The House and Senate voted to move ahead despite rejecting time-saving rules to limit testimony and debate and prohibit bills unrelated to COVID-19 vaccination in an effort to wrap up the session in just three days.

“If this is important enough for us to assemble here, it’s important for us to do it right,” said Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, who voted against the special rules and in favor of adjournment.

Other lawmakers warned of high stakes, saying they expected the Biden administration to release details of its COVID-19 vaccination mandate for health care workers, federal contractors and large businesses early next week.

“In five days we are going to have hundreds of people, potentially thousands, who are going to lose their jobs because of a mandate," Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, said.

Gray is lead sponsor of a bill co-sponsored by 11 others that would allow people denied work because they're not vaccinated to collect at least $500,000 in civil damages. A bill sponsored by Rep. Bill Fortner, R-Gillette, would fine any public servant who tries to enforce any COVID-19 vaccine mandate up to $10 million.

Schools would be barred from enforcing student mask-wearing and vaccination against not just COVID-19 but any disease under a bill sponsored by Rep. Ocean...