President Joe Biden directed on Thursday the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop rules to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employees of companies with more than 100 employees and any organization doing business with the federal government.
California's special districts should be aware that the federal rule will soon impact the state and its local governments. California is one of 22 states with federally-approved OSHA state plans that allow the agency to regulate health and safety for state and local public employees. The state plan, as a result, will facilitate the extension of the federal mandate to local governments, including special districts. Cal/OSHA will have 30 days after the federal rule is published to adopt a standard that could mirror, or be more stringent than, the federal OSHA requirements.
As of Monday morning (September 13), the federal rule is not yet published, and all details of the federal rule are subject to change. The rule is anticipated to require impacted employers to require employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or be tested on a weekly basis as well as require paid time off for employees to get their shots. Limited exemptions will be available.
CSDA will monitor and share any developments regarding local government vaccine mandates from Cal/OSHA. Stay tuned to CSDA's Advocacy News and Novel Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources Community for more information in the weeks ahead.
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