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Could you imagine the shock reading that the Indiana Senate thinks that it is appropriate to deny our state employed Hoosier Heroes their disability and death benefits if they refuse to get the experimental COVID vaccine, EVEN when using a federally guaranteed religious exemption?
I was completely dismayed. Senate Bill 232 was written with the intention to provide death and disability benefits to front line workers who are exposed in the line of duty. As it stands, none of our heroes are eligible for death or disability benefits if they contract COVID-19 in the line of duty. While the efforts of SB232 are admirable there is a glaring shortcoming, Religious freedom. Legislative insiders claim "We couldn't provide benefits to everyone, we would rather do something for a small group of them rather than none of them." My only response to our legislature: "You are writing the law, protect them all." At a very minimum our legislators have the duty to protect the rights of their constituents. Adding protective language for religious freedom is so simple and within the power of the legislature. SB232 must be rectified guaranteeing religious freedoms of our heroes and the rights they deserve.
You can read SB232 here or the corresponding code already in existence for other "exposure risk diseases" here. Essentially this bill lists a long line of state employed Hoosier Heroes including: a member of a fire department, an emergency medical services provider, a member of a police department, a correctional officer, a state police officer, a county police officer, a county sheriff, an excise police officer, a conservation enforcement officer, a town marshal, a deputy town marshal, a member of a consolidated law enforcement department, a probation officer; or a community corrections officer; who will be denied disability and death benefits if they decline the COVID-19 vaccination required by the employer and contract COVID-19 in the line of duty.
The Indiana Legislature must account for moral and religious objections to the coronavirus vaccination prior to denying disability and death benefits!
I was completely dismayed. Senate Bill 232 was written with the intention to provide death and disability benefits to front line workers who are exposed in the line of duty. As it stands, none of our heroes are eligible for death or disability benefits if they contract COVID-19 in the line of duty. While the efforts of SB232 are admirable there is a glaring shortcoming, Religious freedom. Legislative insiders claim "We couldn't provide benefits to everyone, we would rather do something for a small group of them rather than none of them." My only response to our legislature: "You are writing the law, protect them all." At a very minimum our legislators have the duty to protect the rights of their constituents. Adding protective language for religious freedom is so simple and within the power of the legislature. SB232 must be rectified guaranteeing religious freedoms of our heroes and the rights they deserve.
You can read SB232 here or the corresponding code already in existence for other "exposure risk diseases" here. Essentially this bill lists a long line of state employed Hoosier Heroes including: a member of a fire department, an emergency medical services provider, a member of a police department, a correctional officer, a state police officer, a county police officer, a county sheriff, an excise police officer, a conservation enforcement officer, a town marshal, a deputy town marshal, a member of a consolidated law enforcement department, a probation officer; or a community corrections officer; who will be denied disability and death benefits if they decline the COVID-19 vaccination required by the employer and contract COVID-19 in the line of duty.
The Indiana Legislature must account for moral and religious objections to the coronavirus vaccination prior to denying disability and death benefits!
Show support for your Front line Heroes and sign below!
To Whom it May Concern,
We, the residents of Indiana, refuse to stand by and allow the rights of our Frontline Public Servants to be away. Over the last year we have seen our Fire, Police, EMS, Sheriff, and Correctional officers step-up in unprecedented ways. We are so thankful for their dedication and heroism as they walked into unknown situations while everyone else was tucked away at home.
We are appreciative of the intentions of SB232 but we know you can do better! We believe our Heroes deserve the right to religious freedom and if accepting a COVID-19 vaccination or treatment interferes with their moral or religious convictions they should not be penalized. We expect you to follow up on this important matter and ensure that our heroes rights to religious freedom are protected and their benefits are granted just the same as those of their peers.
Respectfully,
We, the residents of Indiana, refuse to stand by and allow the rights of our Frontline Public Servants to be away. Over the last year we have seen our Fire, Police, EMS, Sheriff, and Correctional officers step-up in unprecedented ways. We are so thankful for their dedication and heroism as they walked into unknown situations while everyone else was tucked away at home.
We are appreciative of the intentions of SB232 but we know you can do better! We believe our Heroes deserve the right to religious freedom and if accepting a COVID-19 vaccination or treatment interferes with their moral or religious convictions they should not be penalized. We expect you to follow up on this important matter and ensure that our heroes rights to religious freedom are protected and their benefits are granted just the same as those of their peers.
Respectfully,
