H-0432.3

HOUSE BILL 1317

ByRepresentatives Young, Kraft, Chase, and Sutherland

AN ACT Relating to an individual's right to refuse health-related measures; adding a new section to chapter 70.54 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 70.54 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Notwithstanding laws, rules, orders, or directives made or promulgated in response to an emergency, including but not limited to a national security emergency, statewide emergency, local or other health emergency, or any peacetime emergency, and notwithstanding existing laws and rules addressing outbreaks or potential outbreaks or epidemics of a contagious, infectious, or communicable disease, individuals retain the right to be free and independent and maintain their inalienable and fundamental right of self-determination to make their own health decisions, including but not limited to the right to refuse the following health-related measures:

(a) Medical examinations, treatments, or procedures;

(b) Drugs and biological products;

(c) Testing or participation in tracking or tracing programs; and

(d) The wearing of any form of clothing or body covering that is not otherwise unlawful.

(2) An individual who has been directed or ordered by a public or private business or entity, or a government or its designees, including but not limited to the secretary of health, a local health officer, a sheriff or peace officer, a labor and industries agent or officer, or any designee of such secretary, agent, or officer, to submit to a directive or order as described in this subsection, may choose: To decline, to comply, to respond to, or to participate with said directive or order.

(3) The government or its designees, or other employers, businesses, nonprofits, institutions, churches, travel carriers, or other public or private entities, may not infringe upon, put conditions on, restrict, or take away a person's ability to fully participate in necessary and important services and lifestyle choices and preferences including, but not limited to, employment, education, religion, travel, sports, hobbies, entertainment, and lifestyle preferences, based on a person choosing to decline health-related measures as described in subsection (1) of this section.

(4) Only a person who has proven to be infected with a communicable disease and exhibiting symptoms of that communicable disease may be asked to participate in self-isolation or self-quarantine procedures according to the department of health guidance. No one may be mandated to participate in self-isolation or self-quarantine or isolation or quarantine procedures unless they prove to be infected with a communicable disease and are exhibiting symptoms of that communicable disease.

(5) Notwithstanding existing isolation and quarantine laws, all potential isolation or quarantine must be of the least restrictive means possible, include reasonable notice and due process, be protective of the right of the individual to remain in their home, live with family members, friends, or significant others at all times, and not require homes to be altered or renovated such as adding additional bathrooms. The quarantining of a noninfected person must be on a voluntary basis and may not be imposed for any reason including evidence of contact or close proximity with an infected person or third-party location data. Treatment, testing, tracking, or prevention orders may not be imposed as a requirement for the ending of isolation or quarantine of a person. A person in isolation or quarantine has the right to utilize the health care treatments of their choice and to have a consenting person of their choice with them and attending their needs at all times. Quarantine or isolation may not take away or alter the legal or medical custody of a person who is under a parent or legal guardian. A minor child may not be forcibly removed from their parent, legal guardian, or home.

(6) Before a health care provider or an individual who has been directed or ordered by a government or its designees, or a public or private business or entity, including but not limited to a secretary of health, a local health officer, a sheriff or peace officer, a labor and industries official or agent, or any designee of such secretary, agent, or officer, attempts to perform a health-related measure included in an order or directive or requests participation in a health-related measure that is included in an order or a directive including but not limited to the health-related measures listed in subsection (1) of this section, he or she shall notify the person of his or her rights to not receive a health-related measure or not to be subject to isolation as prescribed in this section by reading aloud to him or her subsections (1) through (5) of this section.

(7) The provider, secretary, officer, or any designee shall also obtain a signature of acknowledgment of receipt of the notification required in subsection (6) of this section from any person who declines to participate.

(8) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Biological product" has the same meaning as defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 262.

(b) "Drug" has the same meaning as defined in 21 U.S.C. Sec. 321.

(c) "Individual" and "person" includes adults and minor children.

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