Cruise lines can ask for proof of vaccination in Texas

[MrMarc]

Local news is reporting that cruise lines CAN ask for proof of vaccination under the new Texas law:

 

https://abc13.com/carnival-cruises-to-sail-out-of-galveston-travel-cruise-ships/10763339/

[smokeybandit]

That says the cruise lines believe they have a loophole to use to get around the laws, not that the state law specifically allows it

[MrMarc]

9 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

That says the cruise lines believe they have a loophole to use to get around the laws, not that the state law specifically allows it

The law does specifically state it, look at (e)(1): 

Sec. 161.0085.  COVID-19 VACCINE PASSPORTS PROHIBITED. (a)
	In this section, "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus
	disease.
	(b)  A governmental entity in this state may not issue a
	vaccine passport, vaccine pass, or other standardized
	documentation to certify an individual's COVID-19 vaccination
	status to a third party for a purpose other than health care or
	otherwise publish or share any individual's COVID-19 immunization
	record or similar health information for a purpose other than
	health care.
	(c)  A business in this state may not require a customer to
	provide any documentation certifying the customer's COVID-19
	vaccination or post-transmission recovery on entry to, to gain
	access to, or to receive service from the business. A business that
	fails to comply with this subsection is not eligible to receive a
	grant or enter into a contract payable with state funds.
	(d)  Notwithstanding any other law, each appropriate state
	agency shall ensure that businesses in this state comply with
	Subsection (c) and may require compliance with that subsection as a
	condition for a license, permit, or other state authorization
	necessary for conducting business in this state.
	(e)  This section may not be construed to:
	(1)  restrict a business from implementing COVID-19
	screening and infection control protocols in accordance with state
	and federal law to protect public health; or
	(2)  interfere with an individual's right to access the
	individual's personal health information under federal law.

[WhiteSoxFan]

Reports say there is an exception for entities under the jurisdiction of another federal agency

[danv3]

Florida has a similar, but not identical, exception as the Texas law:

"This subsection does not otherwise restrict businesses from instituting screening protocols consistent with authoritative or controlling government-issued guidance to protect public health."  http://laws.flrules.org/2021/8

If the CDC orders cruises to check for vaccination status, there's little doubt that controls over either state's law.  On key issue at the moment is that the CDC does not mandate vaccination for cruise ship passengers.  

[MrMarc]

To me, this may be why the cruise lines did not join the lawsuit in Florida.  If Florida wins, they loose the protection of a Federal mandate that would overrule the State laws, and the loophole is closed.  There are so many moving parts to this situation, no one knows or can predict what will happen tomorrow.  But that isn't discouraging me or anyone else from having fun speculating online.