Leon County drops mask, vaccine mandates for workers amid new laws signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis

Leon County government informed its employees Friday afternoon that it will no longer require them to get vaccinated or wear masks following new measures enacted during last month's special legislative session.

Candice Wilson, director of the county's Human Resources, informed the county's 700-plus employees of the policy change in a Friday afternoon email.

"Dear Leon County employee, with the passage of the new bills from the special session of the Florida Legislature the mandates related to masks, medical or religious accommodations and vaccinations are no longer being enforced," she wrote. "This means that employees who were granted an accommodation are no longer required to adhere to the clauses within the approved accommodation."

A look at the special session: Florida lawmakers wrap up special session called by Ron DeSantis to blunt Biden on vaccines

'Mistaken determination': Leon County files challenge to state fine over COVID vaccine mandate

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law bills that banned mask mandates for Florida schools and other government entities. One measure stated plainly that "any existing ordinance, rule or policy imposing such mandate is null and void as of the effective date of this act."

The law includes $5,000 fines per violation.

Matt Cavell, a spokesman for the county, said employees affected by the new laws were notified earlier. He said the county began following the new laws as soon as they went into effect.

In July, the county began requiring its workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of their employment. County Administrator Vince Long said in an email Saturday that the mandate was instituted "when Delta cases were surging and vaccinations were plummeting" in the county.

"These actions were absolutely necessary to take," Long said, "given the volatility, uncertainty and highly infectious nature of this deadly virus, in order to keep our employees safe, protect the public and ensure our readiness as a frontline response organization."

Long, however, acknowledged that House Bill 1 prohibits the county from requiring employee vaccinations going forward. The law went into effect Nov. 18.

"We intend to of course follow this new law," Long said.

Fourteen county employees were fired over the summer for refusing to comply with the vaccine mandate. That prompted the Florida Department of Health, under the governor's direction, to fine the county more than $3.5 million. The county is challenging the fines.

Long said in his email that "consistent with board direction, the county will defend its legal authority to have instituted an employee vaccination mandate not inconsistent with existing law at that time."

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.

Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon County drops mask, vaccine mandates for workers amid new laws