The GOP has now introduced its highly anticipated comprehensive COVID-19 Immunity Bill, Senate Bill 4317, which is unfair, unnecessary and unsafe. It's unfair because it essentially eliminates the ability of individuals and businesses to obtain relief for the negligent infliction of COVID-19. It's unnecessary because the feared flood of COVID-19 lawsuits that the bill purports to address has not happened, and it will not happen. It's unsafe because the blanket, indiscriminate immunity that the bill creates incentivizes businesses, nursing homes and hospitals to take only minimal steps to protect employees, customers, residents and patients from COVID-19.

Ironically, the Republicans titled SB 4317 the "SAFE TO WORK Act." The bill's stated purpose is "to lessen the burdens on interstate commerce by discouraging insubstantial lawsuits relating to COVID-19 while preserving the ability of individuals and businesses that have suffered real injury to obtain complete relief." SB 4317 does no such thing, however. Instead, the bill essentially eliminates the ability of individuals and businesses to obtain real relief. The approach of the drafters of SB 4317 is akin to a doctor treating a patient suffering from a headache with amputation of the patient's head.