Elinor Smith from the University of Montana School of Journalism is providing reports from the Montana legislative session to New Media Broadcasters. This is one of her reports:
HELENA — The House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a bill Friday that would add nonprofits that focus on supporting cancer patients to the list of organizations that are exempt from a 2021 law that banned employers from requiring vaccinations for their employees.
Under that law, nursing homes and long-term care facilities can be exempt and thus, can require vaccinations. House Bill 354, would also exempt these nonprofits.
Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, sponsored the bill and said it is a simple amendment to make sure organizations focused on supporting cancer patients and survivors, who are often immunocompromised, can work without putting anyone at risk of getting sick.
“This bill is in many ways about freedom and the freedom of an institution like this — Like this cancer center and the related programs to set the rules for what’s best for them and their patients with the soundest medical advice they can get from their doctors,” Stafman said.
There were six proponents of the bill, mostly including doctors and patients who said that requiring vaccination was their standard before any vaccination discrimination legislation was passed. They said the vaccine requirements included all vaccinations and it wasn’t about COVID — it was about providing positive experiences based on what their patients wanted.
Marion Cherry is a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed 16 years ago and she took part in an event for female survivors put on by a nonprofit, an event that she said was life-changing for her and the kind of event that might need to require vaccination.
“Being able to have our mental and physical health improved by cancer support community in-person activities and meetings is important to us. Being sure whether we are in safe environments is critical to us not knowing if we may come in close contact with unvaccinated people or people with COVID is vital. If we don’t know, we don’t go. Our lives depend on it,” Cherry said.
Dr. Becky Franks is the CEO of the Cancer Support Community of Montana, which runs programs that support people with cancer and their loved ones. She said her organization would not require vaccines for every event it offers — only those where their patients could risk close contact with others. She also said that they’d be willing to schedule duplicate events for those who are not vaccinated so they can be involved with the program as well.
“Our organization really is patient-centered and — and we want to make sure that anybody who needs the support will get the support that they need,” Franks said.
There were no opponents of the bill and the committee did not take immediate action.
