Recent OSHA Ruling Clarification

SCCCD will continue to require that all students and employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition to entering district facilities, subject to legally required medical and religious belief exemptions. The Supreme Court's decision does not impact SCCCD's vaccine requirements because the decision was about OSHA's authority, and not the authority of employers and schools to require vaccination. Courts throughout the country have repeatedly upheld employer and school vaccine requirements.

The recent United States Supreme Court temporarily suspended an emergency rule issued by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that required private employers with more than 100 employees to enforce COVID-19 vaccination requirements. The Supreme Court found that OSHA likely lacked the authority to issue the emergency standards imposing the vaccine requirement. The Supreme Court's decision does not impact SCCCD's vaccine requirements because the decision was about OSHA's authority, and not the authority of employers and schools to require vaccination.

Respectfully,

Matthew T. Besmer
General Counsel
State Center Community College District