In addition to allowing school districts to require masks, Judge John Cooper's decision ends the state's sanctions against 13 districts, including Sarasota County, that previously enacted mandates.
The district is now only accepting exemption forms from MDs, DOs and nurse practitioners. The move comes after Venice chiropractor Dan Busch signed more than 500 medical exemption forms.
The vaccine policy is an initiative of Empath Health senior leadership in consultation with clinical experts and endorsement from the board of directors.
The Hope Scholarship helps bullied children transfer schools. Now, the taxpayer-funded Florida program may help children transfer to a private school if they are bullied for wearing—or not wearing—a mask at school.