HR 2981 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

June 19, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts (for himself, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. POLIS of Colorado, Mr. ANDREWS, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. CASTLE, Mr. KIRK, Mr. LANCE, and Mr. PLATTS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to address the history and widespread pattern of irrational discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity by private sector employers and local, State, and Federal government employers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to provide a comprehensive Federal prohibition of employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) to provide meaningful and effective remedies for employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) to invoke congressional powers, including the powers to enforce the 14th amendment to the Constitution, and to regulate interstate commerce and provide for the general welfare pursuant to section 8 of article I of the Constitution, in order to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

(a) In General- In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) COMMISSION- The term ‘Commission’ means the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COVERED ENTITY- The term ‘covered entity’ means an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) EMPLOYEE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) IN GENERAL- The term ‘employee’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) an employee as defined in section 701(f) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(f);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) a Presidential appointee or State employee to which section 302(a)(1) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-16(a)(1)) applies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) a covered employee, as defined in section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301) or section 411(c) of title 3, United States Code; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iv) an employee or applicant to which section 717(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-16(a)) applies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) EXCEPTION- The provisions of this Act that apply to an employee or individual shall not apply to a volunteer who receives no compensation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) EMPLOYER- The term ‘employer’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) a person engaged in an industry affecting commerce (as defined in section 701(h) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(h)) who has 15 or more employees (as defined in subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B) of paragraph (3)) for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, and any agent of such a person, but does not include a bona fide private membership club (other than a labor organization) that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) an employing authority to which section 302(a)(1) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 applies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) an employing office, as defined in section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 or section 411(c) of title 3, United States Code; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) an entity to which section 717(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) EMPLOYMENT AGENCY- The term ‘employment agency’ has the meaning given the term in section 701(c) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(c)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) GENDER IDENTITY- The term ‘gender identity’ means the gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, with or without regard to the individual’s designated sex at birth.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) LABOR ORGANIZATION- The term ‘labor organization’ has the meaning given the term in section 701(d) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(d)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) PERSON- The term ‘person’ has the meaning given the term in section 701(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(a)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) SEXUAL ORIENTATION- The term ‘sexual orientation’ means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) STATE- The term ‘State’ has the meaning given the term in section 701(i) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(i)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Application of Definitions- For purposes of this section, a reference in section 701 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to an employee or an employer shall be considered to refer to an employee (as defined in paragraph (3)) or an employer (as defined in paragraph (4)), respectively, except as provided in paragraph (2) below; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to an employer in subsection (f) of that section shall be considered to refer to an employer (as defined in paragraph (4)(A)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED.

(a) Employer Practices- It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to the compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment of the individual, because of such individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to limit, segregate, or classify the employees or applicants for employment of the employer in any way that would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment or otherwise adversely affect the status of the individual as an employee, because of such individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Employment Agency Practices- It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employment agency to fail or refuse to refer for employment, or otherwise to discriminate against, any individual because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of the individual or to classify or refer for employment any individual on the basis of the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of the individual.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Labor Organization Practices- It shall be an unlawful employment practice for a labor organization--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to exclude or to expel from its membership, or otherwise to discriminate against, any individual because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of the individual;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to limit, segregate, or classify its membership or applicants for membership, or to classify or fail or refuse to refer for employment any individual, in any way that would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment, or would limit such employment or otherwise adversely affect the status of the individual as an employee or as an applicant for employment because of such individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) to cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against an individual in violation of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Training Programs- It shall be an unlawful employment practice for any employer, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee controlling apprenticeship or other training or retraining, including on-the-job training programs, to discriminate against any individual because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of the individual in admission to, or employment in, any program established to provide apprenticeship or other training.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Association- An unlawful employment practice described in any of subsections (a) through (d) shall be considered to include an action described in that subsection, taken against an individual based on the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of a person with whom the individual associates or has associated.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) No Preferential Treatment or Quotas- Nothing in this Act shall be construed or interpreted to require or permit--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) any covered entity to grant preferential treatment to any individual or to any group because of the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of such individual or group on account of an imbalance which may exist with respect to the total number or percentage of persons of any actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity employed by any employer, referred or classified for employment by any employment agency or labor organization, admitted to membership or classified by any labor organization, or admitted to, or employed in, any apprenticeship or other training program, in comparison with the total number or percentage of persons of such actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in any community, State, section, or other area, or in the available work force in any community, State, section, or other area; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the adoption or implementation by a covered entity of a quota on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Disparate Impact- Only disparate treatment claims may be brought under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. RETALIATION PROHIBITED.

It shall be an unlawful employment practice for a covered entity to discriminate against an individual because such individual (1) opposed any practice made an unlawful employment practice by this Act; or (2) made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. EXEMPTION FOR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

This Act shall not apply to a corporation, association, educational institution, or society that is exempt from the religious discrimination provisions of title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 pursuant to section 702(a) or 703(e)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000e-1(a); 2000e-2(e)(2)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. NONAPPLICATION TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES; VETERANS’ PREFERENCES.

(a) Armed Forces-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) EMPLOYMENT- In this Act, the term ‘employment’ does not apply to the relationship between the United States and members of the Armed Forces.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ARMED FORCES- In paragraph (1) the term ‘Armed Forces’ means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Veterans’ Preferences- This title does not repeal or modify any Federal, State, territorial, or local law creating a special right or preference concerning employment for a veteran.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. CONSTRUCTION.

(a) Employer Rules and Policies-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a covered entity from enforcing rules and policies that do not intentionally circumvent the purposes of this Act, if the rules or policies are designed for, and uniformly applied to, all individuals regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) SEXUAL HARASSMENT- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit a covered entity from taking adverse action against an individual because of a charge of sexual harassment against that individual, provided that rules and policies on sexual harassment, including when adverse action is taken, are designed for, and uniformly applied to, all individuals regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) CERTAIN SHARED FACILITIES- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to establish an unlawful employment practice based on actual or perceived gender identity due to the denial of access to shared shower or dressing facilities in which being seen unclothed is unavoidable, provided that the employer provides reasonable access to adequate facilities that are not inconsistent with the employee’s gender identity as established with the employer at the time of employment or upon notification to the employer that the employee has undergone or is undergoing gender transition, whichever is later.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) ADDITIONAL FACILITIES NOT REQUIRED- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require the construction of new or additional facilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) DRESS AND GROOMING STANDARDS- Nothing in this Act shall prohibit an employer from requiring an employee, during the employee’s hours at work, to adhere to reasonable dress or grooming standards not prohibited by other provisions of Federal, State, or local law, provided that the employer permits any employee who has undergone gender transition prior to the time of employment, and any employee who has notified the employer that the employee has undergone or is undergoing gender transition after the time of employment, to adhere to the same dress or grooming standards for the gender to which the employee has transitioned or is transitioning.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Employee Benefits- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require a covered entity to treat an unmarried couple in the same manner as the covered entity treats a married couple for purposes of employee benefits.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Definition of Marriage- As used in this Act, the term ‘married’ refers to marriage as such term is defined in section 7 of title I, United States Code (referred to as the Defense of Marriage Act).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 9. COLLECTION OF STATISTICS PROHIBITED.

The Commission shall not collect statistics on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity from covered entities, or compel the collection of such statistics by covered entities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10. ENFORCEMENT.

(a) Enforcement Powers- With respect to the administration and enforcement of this Act in the case of a claim alleged by an individual for a violation of this Act--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the Commission shall have the same powers as the Commission has to administer and enforce--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) sections 302 and 304 of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-16b and 2000e-16c),CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such title, or of section 302(a)(1) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-16b(a)(1)), respectively;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the Librarian of Congress shall have the same powers as the Librarian of Congress has to administer and enforce title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such title;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the Board (as defined in section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301)) shall have the same powers as the Board has to administer and enforce the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of section 201(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1));CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) the Attorney General shall have the same powers as the Attorney General has to administer and enforce--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) sections 302 and 304 of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-16b and 2000e-16c);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such title, or of section 302(a)(1) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-16b(a)(1)), respectively;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) the President, the Commission, and the Merit Systems Protection Board shall have the same powers as the President, the Commission, and the Board, respectively, have to administer and enforce chapter 5 of title 3, United States Code, in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of section 411 of such title; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) a court of the United States shall have the same jurisdiction and powers as the court has to enforce--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such title;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) sections 302 and 304 of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-16b and 2000e-16c) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of section 302(a)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000e-16b(a)(1));CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of section 201(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1)); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) chapter 5 of title 3, United States Code, in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of section 411 of such title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Procedures and Remedies- The procedures and remedies applicable to a claim alleged by an individual for a violation of this Act are--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the procedures and remedies applicable for a violation of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such title;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the procedures and remedies applicable for a violation of section 302(a)(1) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202(a)(1)) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such section;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the procedures and remedies applicable for a violation of section 201(a)(1) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1)) in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) the procedures and remedies applicable for a violation of section 411 of title 3, United States Code, in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a violation of such section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Other Applicable Provisions- With respect to a claim alleged by a covered employee (as defined in section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301)) for a violation of this Act, title III of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.) shall apply in the same manner as such title applies with respect to a claim alleged by such a covered employee for a violation of section 201(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 11. STATE AND FEDERAL IMMUNITY.

(a) Abrogation of State Immunity- A State shall not be immune under the 11th amendment to the Constitution from a suit brought in a Federal court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Waiver of State Immunity-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) WAIVER- A State’s receipt or use of Federal financial assistance for any program or activity of a State shall constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity, under the 11th amendment to the Constitution or otherwise, to a suit brought by an employee or applicant for employment of that program or activity under this Act for a remedy authorized under subsection (d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) DEFINITION- In this paragraph, the term ‘program or activity’ has the meaning given the term in section 606 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d-4a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- With respect to a particular program or activity, paragraph (1) applies to conduct occurring on or after the day, after the date of enactment of this Act, on which a State first receives or uses Federal financial assistance for that program or activity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Remedies Against State Officials- An official of a State may be sued in the official capacity of the official by any employee or applicant for employment who has complied with the applicable procedures of section 10, for equitable relief that is authorized under this Act. In such a suit the court may award to the prevailing party those costs authorized by section 722 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (42 U.S.C. 1988).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Remedies Against the United States and the States- Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, in an action or administrative proceeding against the United States or a State for a violation of this Act, remedies (including remedies at law and in equity, and interest) are available for the violation to the same extent as the remedies are available for a violation of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) by a private entity, except that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) punitive damages are not available; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) compensatory damages are available to the extent specified in section 1977A(b) of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1981a(b)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 12. ATTORNEYS’ FEES.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, in an action or administrative proceeding for a violation of this Act, an entity described in section 10(a) (other than paragraph (4) of such section), in the discretion of the entity, may allow the prevailing party, other than the Commission or the United States, a reasonable attorney’s fee (including expert fees) as part of the costs. The Commission and the United States shall be liable for the costs to the same extent as a private person.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 13. POSTING NOTICES.

A covered entity who is required to post notices described in section 711 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-10) shall post notices for employees, applicants for employment, and members, to whom the provisions specified in section 10(b) apply, that describe the applicable provisions of this Act in the manner prescribed by, and subject to the penalty provided under, section 711 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 14. REGULATIONS.

(a) In General- Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d), the Commission shall have authority to issue regulations to carry out this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Librarian of Congress- The Librarian of Congress shall have authority to issue regulations to carry out this Act with respect to employees and applicants for employment of the Library of Congress.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Board- The Board referred to in section 10(a)(3) shall have authority to issue regulations to carry out this Act, in accordance with section 304 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1384), with respect to covered employees, as defined in section 101 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1301).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) President- The President shall have authority to issue regulations to carry out this Act with respect to covered employees, as defined in section 411(c) of title 3, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 15. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.

This Act shall not invalidate or limit the rights, remedies, or procedures available to an individual claiming discrimination prohibited under any other Federal law or regulation or any law or regulation of a State or political subdivision of a State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 16. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act, or the application of the provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this Act and the application of the provision to any other person or circumstances shall not be affected by the invalidity.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 17. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act shall take effect on the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act and shall not apply to conduct occurring before the effective date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink