Months after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order banning what some called “vaccine passports," the state is investigating over 100 businesses and government agencies for potential violations, including several with ties to South Florida.
The Florida Department of Health has over 120 cases “under review” after a public records request was filed, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Monday.
Among the organizations on the list of cases being investigated are the Miami Marlins, the city of Miramar, the Plantation Police Department, Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Miramar Mayor Wayne Messam told the paper it was “such a surprise we are being investigated” after asking City Hall employees and members of the city’s police department to get vaccinated by November 1st.
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The city of Plantation initially said all employees must be fully vaccinated by the end of September or face unpaid leave and possible termination. That policy was rewritten October 1st due to “ongoing legal challenges.”
“Overall I think the policy has gone smoothly,” Jason R. Nunemaker, the city’s chief administrative officer, told the paper. “We have had some complaints; a few employees even spoke under public comment at City Council.”
DeSantis issued the executive order in April barring businesses in Florida from requiring a customer from showing proof of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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A law was enacted and signed by DeSantis in May and the state began issuing $5,000 fines in September.
The law is being challenged in court and conflicts with a Biden administration order that companies with more than 100 employees require their workers to be vaccinated or face weekly testing.
A press secretary for DeSantis told the paper “an investigation is not a finding of a violation.”
