City of Gainesville, Alachua County, Library District under investigation for requiring vaccine documentation

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) has announced that over 100 entities and institutions in Florida are under investigation for requiring documentation of vaccination status, including “Lauren Poe, Mayor City of Gainesville,” the Alachua County Commission, and Alachua County Library District.

Yesterday, FDOH announced the first large fine, $3.57 million to Leon County “for its blatant violation of the law relating to the ban of vaccine passports in our state. This fine has been assessed for 714 instances of violating Florida’s ban on vaccine passports. Leon County Government ultimately fired 14 employees.” A copy of the Notice of Violation to Leon County can be found here.

FDOH now has the authority to enforce penalties on applicable entities and institutions that require documentation of vaccination or post-exposure status. Floridians and visitors can submit complaints at VaxPassFreeFL@FLHealth.gov, and the Department will review, assess, and investigate as warranted. Applicable entities that are found to be in violation will be fined.

This law prohibits the following entities from requiring documentation of COVID-19 vaccination or post-infection recovery:

A business may not require patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or post-infection recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or service from the business operations.

A government may not require persons to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or post-infection recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or service from the government operations.

An educational institution may not require students or residents to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or post-infection recovery for attendance or enrollment, or to gain access to, entry upon, or service from such educational institution.

FDOH has released the following list of entities that are “under review” as of October 8; the list appears to simply include all the entities that have been reported, so there is no way to know whether they will be found to be in violation of the law:

Alachua County Board of County Commissioners

Alachua County Library District

“Lauren Poe, Mayor City of Gainesville”

Saint Edward’s School

House of Blues

Allied Universal

Amway Center

Grovenor House Condominium

Kravis Center

The Rock Boat (Norwegian Cruise Line)

Raytheon Technologies 

Moffitt Communications

Mobile Mini

“Allied  Universal / G4S and Bay Care Health Systems”

Naples Community Hospital

“City of Miramar Vernon E. Hargray, City Manager”

Memorial Hospital West

“2021 I/ITSEC”

Daily’s Place

Straz

FDLE, Jacksonville Region, Counterterrorism Squad

Plaza Live

American Gas Association

Miami Marlins

Metcalf, Jessica N

Dr Phillips Center/Walt Disney Theater (Broadway Series)

Membership of CWA 3176

ECPI University

Mid Florida Credit Union ( Zack Brown Concert)

AGA : 2021 Operations Conference

Feld Entertainment Studios

AdventHealth

Vertex Aerospace

iTHINK Financial Amphitheater / Maroon 5 concert

Broward Center for the Performing Arts and The Parker.

Titusville, Florida’s Space Coast

Gasparilla Music Festival

NEW WORLD SYMPHONY

Equinox

The MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa

Armory Center for the Arts

Seafarers International Union

AT&T

The Big Arts Sanibel Island

JP Poindexter & Co employees.

Straz Center for Performing Arts

Tampa Amphitheater

DoD employees

Orange County

Riverview High School Preforming Arts Center

Carnival Cruise Line

Allion insurance, Florida Amphitheater Live Nation

Live Nation Concerts- MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Doctor Phillips Center

Royal Caribbean

Norton Museum

David A Straz Center

Seafarers International Union

WBENC

“American Public Transit Association, Orange County Convention Center”

Florida Trail Association

Plantation Police Department

Jewel Toffier

Titanium Yoga – “VAX ONLY” classes

Orlando Lowndes Shakespeare Center

“Jerry Demings, Mayor Orange County”

Johns Island Club

Geo Gaming

Skydive Deland

Starbucks

Van Wezel Performing Arts Center

Coast is Clear Music Festival

Merrill Gardens at Champions Gate

The Saber Legion – Florida Charter sponsored event: called Florida Kyber Open on November 14th at XL Soccer World Orlando

Norton Art Gallery

Allegiant Airlines at the St. Petersburg/Clearwater airport

American Maritime Officers Union / Training Facility

4740 Grassendale Terrace 

Amway Center – Harry Styles concert

Florida Repertory theater

Military defense contractor

Disney Cruise Line

MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre 

Leidos

Tampa amphitheater / Live Nation event

Mid FL amphitheater – David Aldean Concert

Government contractor for Booz Allen

Integrity Title and Guarantee LLC

Northrop Grumman

Leon County Government, County Administrator Vincent S.  Long