SB 117-37: The Termination of COVID-19 Measures Act - REDRAFTED

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The Termination of COVID-19 Measures Act

Preamble

Recognizing the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity to adapt our legislative and executive measures accordingly,

Article 1: Revocation of COVID-19-specific Legislation

Article 1: Revocation of COVID-19-specific Legislation

The following statutes are hereby repealed:
1. HB 23-02: Coronavirus Containment and Emergency Response Act
2. HB 23-12: More Funding to Combat COVID-19 Act
3. HB 24-03: Further Efforts in Pandemic Fighting Act (Passed)
4. HB 23-17: Jobs and Pay During the Coronavirus Pandemic Act (Passed)
5. HB 24-19: Extending Quarantines for New Arrivals Act (Passed)
6. HB 23-05: Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2020
7. HB 26-16: The Second Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2020 (Passed)
8. HB 29-12: COVID-19 Funeral Relief Assistance Act
9. HB 28-17: COVIDEBT Act (Debating)
10. HB 29-39: Third Emergency Economic Stimulus Act (Passed)
11. SB 105-02: Immunization Act of 2021 (Passed)

Article 2: Annulment of Ongoing COVID-19 Executive Orders

All executive orders related to COVID-19 that mandate continuing actions are hereby rescinded and declared null and void.

Disclaimer: Sunset Provisions

It is acknowledged that some of the aforementioned laws, statutes, regulations, or executive orders related to COVID-19 might have already expired or been rendered null due to built-in sunset provisions or other time-bound constraints. Nonetheless, this act seeks to ensure clarity and certainty regarding their termination status.

Article 3: Repeal of COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards

The issuance and requirement of COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards is hereby terminated. Individuals shall no longer be mandated to present or maintain such cards as proof of vaccination status. All entities, public or private, are prohibited from requiring these cards for any purpose

Article 4: Repeal of Pandemic Wealth Tax

I. The "Pandemic Wealth Tax" or any analogous federal tax implemented during or in response to a health crisis or pandemic is hereby repealed in its entirety.

Ia. All financial obligations or liabilities arising from said tax prior to its repeal remain enforceable, unless otherwise stated in subsequent provisions or amendments.
Ib. The federal government shall promptly address and provide guidance on any outstanding administrative or compliance issues stemming from the repeal of this tax.

Sponsor: Laki
Occupying: Slot 18

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Thank you mr. speaker. The pandemic is over, therefore I believe we must introduce a one-time omnibus repeal bill that would repeal all legislation regarding the pandemic as they would be no longer relevant or should be in effect. While I commend the passing of certain legislation and the efforts by mostly Labor at the time to fight the pandemic, it is also a time to move on and deal with a post-covid society.

I added a few additional things such as the repeal of the pandemic wealth tax (i'm not sure what bill actually introduced that one), but i believe if we are in favour of a wealth tax (which i'm), it should be separated from the pandemic wealth tax. I also added an article requesting the repeal of vaccination record cards, as I believe these should no longer be relevant and is simply another slug on the administration of several businesses or for yourself. And article III would give unvaccinated people also the right of a one-time refundable credit. They too were impacted by the pandemic and vaccination should always have been optional, and if encouraged not through such a way.

[DKrol]

While I strongly oppose this legislation and believe that the pandemic is not over, as large numbers of people are still falling ill every day and the virus is making seasonal surges, I offer the following amendment, to soften my opposition.

The Termination of COVID-19 Measures Act

Preamble

Recognizing the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity to adapt our legislative and executive measures accordingly,

Article 1: Revocation of COVID-19-specific Legislation

All statutes, laws, and regulations previously enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are hereby repealed and are no longer in force, the following:
1. HB 23-02: Coronavirus Containment and Emergency Response Act
2. HB 23-12: More Funding to Combat COVID-19 Act
3. HB 23-13: Support for Frontline Workers of the 2019-2020 Coronavirus Pandemic Resolution (Passed)
4. HB 24-03: Further Efforts in Pandemic Fighting Act (Passed)
5. HB 23-17: Jobs and Pay During the Coronavirus Pandemic Act (Passed)
6. HB 24-19: Extending Quarantines for New Arrivals Act (Passed)
7. HB 23-05: Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2020
8. HB 23-04: More Money for Hurting Small Businesses Act
9. HB 25-05: Employer COVID-19 Liability Limitation Act
10. HB 26.01 Mask Mandate Act
11. HB 26-04: No Coronavirus Copays for Veterans Act
12. HB 26-16: The Second Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2020 (Passed)
13. SB 28-11: Vaccine Production Act (Passed)
14. HB 29-04: COVID Is No Match for Bribes Act (Passed)
15. HB 29-12: COVID-19 Funeral Relief Assistance Act
16. HB 28-17: COVIDEBT Act (Debating)
17. HB 29-39: Third Emergency Economic Stimulus Act (Passed)
18. HR 30-08: People over Patents
19. HB 30-05: COVID-19 Vaccine Card Anti-Forgery Act
20. HB 29-42: Medical Leave and Compensation Act of 2021
21. SB 104-05: Direct COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution Act (Passed)
22. SB 105-02: Immunization Act of 2021 (Passed)

Exceptions:
SB 117-02: The Covid Offenders Pardon Act

Article 2: Annulment of Ongoing COVID-19 Executive Orders

All executive orders related to COVID-19 that mandate continuing actions are hereby rescinded and declared null and void.

Disclaimer: Sunset Provisions

It is acknowledged that some of the aforementioned laws, statutes, regulations, or executive orders related to COVID-19 might have already expired or been rendered null due to built-in sunset provisions or other time-bound constraints. Nonetheless, this act seeks to ensure clarity and certainty regarding their termination status.

Article 3: Refundable Credit for the Unvaccinated: Say no to discrimination

Individuals who chose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccination shall be eligible to claim a one-time refundable credit of $1,000, aligning with the benefits previously afforded to vaccinated individuals, as determined in SB 30-04: COVID Is No Match for Bribes Act

Article 4: Repeal of COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards

The issuance and requirement of COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards is hereby terminated. Individuals shall no longer be mandated to present or maintain such cards as proof of vaccination status. All entities, public or private, are prohibited from requiring these cards for any purpose

Section 5: Repeal of Pandemic Wealth Tax

I. The "Pandemic Wealth Tax" or any analogous federal tax implemented during or in response to a health crisis or pandemic is hereby repealed in its entirety.

Ia. All financial obligations or liabilities arising from said tax prior to its repeal remain enforceable, unless otherwise stated in subsequent provisions or amendments.
Ib. The federal government shall promptly address and provide guidance on any outstanding administrative or compliance issues stemming from the repeal of this tax.

[reagente]

Objecting

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Seconding objection.

[Joseph Cao]

Laki, are you aware that most of these bills have already been phased out? You can't "repeal" something that is no longer enforced.

We already explicitly repealed the Mask Mandate Act.

Why are we repealing a resolution recognizing the contributions of frontline workers?

How are you proposing to "repeal" appropriations that were made and spent years ago?

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Laki, are you aware that most of these bills have already been phased out? You can't "repeal" something that is no longer enforced.

We already explicitly repealed the Mask Mandate Act.

Why are we repealing a resolution recognizing the contributions of frontline workers?

How are you proposing to "repeal" appropriations that were made and spent years ago?

This is addressed by:

Disclaimer: Sunset Provisions

It is acknowledged that some of the aforementioned laws, statutes, regulations, or executive orders related to COVID-19 might have already expired or been rendered null due to built-in sunset provisions or other time-bound constraints. Nonetheless, this act seeks to ensure clarity and certainty regarding their termination status.

It is understood that in some cases, these laws are no longer being enforced or were only allocated set amounts of funding that has since been exhausted. However, with the pandemic being over, it is important they are taken off the books completely. No overzealous president of any party should be able to go through these and find a way to oppress the populace. No Congress of any coalition should be able to decide to appropriate more funding where it has run out to bring the lockdowns back. Instead we should formally establish that the pandemic is over, that many of these things were wrong even when they were first passed, and that we are not going back to 2020, ever. Just like states that have repealed gay marriage bans that haven't been enforceable for a long time to demonstrate they were wrong, we are repealing these bills to demonstrate that they were wrong.

However, that being said, Amendment:

Article 1: Revocation of COVID-19-specific Legislation

All statutes, laws, and regulations previously enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are hereby repealed and are no longer in force, the following The following statutes are hereby repealed:
1. HB 23-02: Coronavirus Containment and Emergency Response Act
2. HB 23-12: More Funding to Combat COVID-19 Act
3. HB 23-13: Support for Frontline Workers of the 2019-2020 Coronavirus Pandemic Resolution (Passed)
4. HB 24-03: Further Efforts in Pandemic Fighting Act (Passed)
5. HB 23-17: Jobs and Pay During the Coronavirus Pandemic Act (Passed)
6. HB 24-19: Extending Quarantines for New Arrivals Act (Passed)
7. HB 23-05: Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2020
8. HB 23-04: More Money for Hurting Small Businesses Act
9. HB 25-05: Employer COVID-19 Liability Limitation Act
10. HB 26.01 Mask Mandate Act
11. HB 26-04: No Coronavirus Copays for Veterans Act
12. HB 26-16: The Second Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2020 (Passed)
13. SB 28-11: Vaccine Production Act (Passed)
14. HB 29-04: COVID Is No Match for Bribes Act (Passed)
15. HB 29-12: COVID-19 Funeral Relief Assistance Act
16. HB 28-17: COVIDEBT Act (Debating)
17. HB 29-39: Third Emergency Economic Stimulus Act (Passed)
18. HR 30-08: People over Patents
19. HB 30-05: COVID-19 Vaccine Card Anti-Forgery Act
20. HB 29-42: Medical Leave and Compensation Act of 2021
21. SB 104-05: Direct COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution Act (Passed)
22. SB 105-02: Immunization Act of 2021 (Passed)

Exceptions:
SB 117-02: The Covid Offenders Pardon Act

Item 3 is simply a resolution recognizing contributions. No harm done there.
Item 8 simply provides money to help small businesses. While I think the money here has already been expended, there's nothing in this bill that could be oppressive should funding still exist or be provided.
Item 9 provides reasonable liability protections for employers so they are not blamed for every covid-19 case. There are still a few people getting covid-19 out there, so this remains appropriate.
Item 10 was already repealed.
Item 11 still provides valuable services to our veterans, and is narrowly drafted.
Items 13 and 21 are simply ensuring vaccines are available to those who want them, they are not mandates.
Item 19 simply prohibits the forgery of vaccine cards. While this is a mostly useless document now, that shouldn't mean creating a fake one is ok.
With the shift to only repealing the specified statutes, we don't need to explicitly exempt the pardon bill anymore.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

While I strongly oppose this legislation and believe that the pandemic is not over, as large numbers of people are still falling ill every day and the virus is making seasonal surges, I offer the following amendment, to soften my opposition.

The Termination of COVID-19 Measures Act

Preamble

Recognizing the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessity to adapt our legislative and executive measures accordingly,

Article 1: Revocation of COVID-19-specific Legislation

All statutes, laws, and regulations previously enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are hereby repealed and are no longer in force, the following:
1. HB 23-02: Coronavirus Containment and Emergency Response Act
2. HB 23-12: More Funding to Combat COVID-19 Act
3. HB 23-13: Support for Frontline Workers of the 2019-2020 Coronavirus Pandemic Resolution (Passed)
4. HB 24-03: Further Efforts in Pandemic Fighting Act (Passed)
5. HB 23-17: Jobs and Pay During the Coronavirus Pandemic Act (Passed)
6. HB 24-19: Extending Quarantines for New Arrivals Act (Passed)
7. HB 23-05: Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2020
8. HB 23-04: More Money for Hurting Small Businesses Act
9. HB 25-05: Employer COVID-19 Liability Limitation Act
10. HB 26.01 Mask Mandate Act
11. HB 26-04: No Coronavirus Copays for Veterans Act
12. HB 26-16: The Second Emergency Economic Stimulus Act of 2020 (Passed)
13. SB 28-11: Vaccine Production Act (Passed)
14. HB 29-04: COVID Is No Match for Bribes Act (Passed)
15. HB 29-12: COVID-19 Funeral Relief Assistance Act
16. HB 28-17: COVIDEBT Act (Debating)
17. HB 29-39: Third Emergency Economic Stimulus Act (Passed)
18. HR 30-08: People over Patents
19. HB 30-05: COVID-19 Vaccine Card Anti-Forgery Act
20. HB 29-42: Medical Leave and Compensation Act of 2021
21. SB 104-05: Direct COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution Act (Passed)
22. SB 105-02: Immunization Act of 2021 (Passed)

Exceptions:
SB 117-02: The Covid Offenders Pardon Act

Article 2: Annulment of Ongoing COVID-19 Executive Orders

All executive orders related to COVID-19 that mandate continuing actions are hereby rescinded and declared null and void.

Disclaimer: Sunset Provisions

It is acknowledged that some of the aforementioned laws, statutes, regulations, or executive orders related to COVID-19 might have already expired or been rendered null due to built-in sunset provisions or other time-bound constraints. Nonetheless, this act seeks to ensure clarity and certainty regarding their termination status.

Article 3: Refundable Credit for the Unvaccinated: Say no to discrimination

Individuals who chose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccination shall be eligible to claim a one-time refundable credit of $1,000, aligning with the benefits previously afforded to vaccinated individuals, as determined in SB 30-04: COVID Is No Match for Bribes Act

Article 4: Repeal of COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards

The issuance and requirement of COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards is hereby terminated. Individuals shall no longer be mandated to present or maintain such cards as proof of vaccination status. All entities, public or private, are prohibited from requiring these cards for any purpose

Section 5: Repeal of Pandemic Wealth Tax

I. The "Pandemic Wealth Tax" or any analogous federal tax implemented during or in response to a health crisis or pandemic is hereby repealed in its entirety.

Ia. All financial obligations or liabilities arising from said tax prior to its repeal remain enforceable, unless otherwise stated in subsequent provisions or amendments.
Ib. The federal government shall promptly address and provide guidance on any outstanding administrative or compliance issues stemming from the repeal of this tax.

A vote is open on the amendment.

Abstain

[DKrol]

Aye

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Abstain

[Joseph Cao]

Laki, are you aware that most of these bills have already been phased out? You can't "repeal" something that is no longer enforced.

We already explicitly repealed the Mask Mandate Act.

Why are we repealing a resolution recognizing the contributions of frontline workers?

How are you proposing to "repeal" appropriations that were made and spent years ago?

This is addressed by:

Disclaimer: Sunset Provisions

It is acknowledged that some of the aforementioned laws, statutes, regulations, or executive orders related to COVID-19 might have already expired or been rendered null due to built-in sunset provisions or other time-bound constraints. Nonetheless, this act seeks to ensure clarity and certainty regarding their termination status.

It is understood that in some cases, these laws are no longer being enforced or were only allocated set amounts of funding that has since been exhausted. However, with the pandemic being over, it is important they are taken off the books completely. No overzealous president of any party should be able to go through these and find a way to oppress the populace. No Congress of any coalition should be able to decide to appropriate more funding where it has run out to bring the lockdowns back. Instead we should formally establish that the pandemic is over, that many of these things were wrong even when they were first passed, and that we are not going back to 2020, ever. Just like states that have repealed gay marriage bans that haven't been enforceable for a long time to demonstrate they were wrong, we are repealing these bills to demonstrate that they were wrong.

Ban repeals like those, no matter how well-meant or objectively correct, are virtue signaling by nature.

All these proposed repeals are for the coronavirus pandemic of 2020. If Dave forbid there's another plague of another virus or germ in 2030 or whatever, how would this bill stop future President or future Congress from passing a lockdown dealing with that specifically? And we don't "reactivate" funds based on past expired appropriations in any case, it's extremely strange to foreclose something that we don't do in Atlasia and never have.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Laki, are you aware that most of these bills have already been phased out? You can't "repeal" something that is no longer enforced.

We already explicitly repealed the Mask Mandate Act.

Why are we repealing a resolution recognizing the contributions of frontline workers?

How are you proposing to "repeal" appropriations that were made and spent years ago?

This is addressed by:

Disclaimer: Sunset Provisions

It is acknowledged that some of the aforementioned laws, statutes, regulations, or executive orders related to COVID-19 might have already expired or been rendered null due to built-in sunset provisions or other time-bound constraints. Nonetheless, this act seeks to ensure clarity and certainty regarding their termination status.

It is understood that in some cases, these laws are no longer being enforced or were only allocated set amounts of funding that has since been exhausted. However, with the pandemic being over, it is important they are taken off the books completely. No overzealous president of any party should be able to go through these and find a way to oppress the populace. No Congress of any coalition should be able to decide to appropriate more funding where it has run out to bring the lockdowns back. Instead we should formally establish that the pandemic is over, that many of these things were wrong even when they were first passed, and that we are not going back to 2020, ever. Just like states that have repealed gay marriage bans that haven't been enforceable for a long time to demonstrate they were wrong, we are repealing these bills to demonstrate that they were wrong.

Ban repeals like those, no matter how well-meant or objectively correct, are virtue signaling by nature.

All these proposed repeals are for the coronavirus pandemic of 2020. If Dave forbid there's another plague of another virus or germ in 2030 or whatever, how would this bill stop future President or future Congress from passing a lockdown dealing with that specifically? And we don't "reactivate" funds based on past expired appropriations in any case, it's extremely strange to foreclose something that we don't do in Atlasia and never have.

It wouldn't stop new legislation of course, but at least we ensure a full vote on that new legislation rather than an overzealous president finding some authority to reinstate lockdowns unilaterally on. Further, I do not see any circumstance, including a pandemic of similar intensity, under which I would support the policies of 2020 or similar.

[Vice President Christian Man]

Nay

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Nay

[Jay 🏳️‍⚧️]

Aye

[reagente]

Nay

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Nay

[fhtagn]

Nay

[RFayette]

Nay

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Nay

[Dr. MB]

Aye

[Coastal Elitist]

Nay

[Joseph Cao]

Nay.

[Joseph Cao]

Introducing amendment:

Article 1: Revocation of COVID-19-specific Legislation
14. HB 29-04: COVID Is No Match for Bribes Act (Passed)

Article 3: Refundable Credit for the Unvaccinated: Say no to discrimination

Individuals who chose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccination shall be eligible to claim a one-time refundable credit of $1,000, aligning with the benefits previously afforded to vaccinated individuals, as determined in SB 30-04: COVID Is No Match for Bribes Act

Whoever linked both versions of the bill is surely aware that it never got anywhere in the Senate and, therefore, never became law, so there is nothing to repeal. Most of y'all served under the 4th Constitution, did everyone else already forget how bicameralism works?

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Friendly to Cao amendment.