SB 390 – VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
03/06/14 0707s
2014 SESSION
05/10
SENATE BILL 390
AN ACT prohibiting discrimination against employees who are victims of domestic violence and establishing a committee to study the protection of employees from domestic violence.
SPONSORS: Sen. Hosmer, Dist 7; Sen. Pierce, Dist 5; Sen. Woodburn, Dist 1; Sen. Lasky, Dist?13; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Kelly, Dist 10; Sen. D’Allesandro, Dist 20; Rep.?Huot, Belk 3
This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against employees who are victims of domestic violence. The bill also establishes a committee to study the protection of employees from domestic violence.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/06/14 0707s
14-2732
05/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen
AN ACT prohibiting discrimination against employees who are victims of domestic violence and establishing a committee to study the protection of employees from domestic violence.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Subdivision; Protection of Employees from Domestic Violence. Amend RSA 275 by inserting after section 70 the following new subdivision:
Protection from Domestic Violence
275:71 Prohibited Conduct by Employer. It is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to:
I. Refuse to hire an otherwise qualified individual because the individual is a victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault, or stalking.
II. Discharge, threaten to discharge, demote, suspend, or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an individual with regard to promotion, compensation or other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because the individual is a victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault, or stalking.
275:72 Penalty. Any employer who violates this subdivision shall be subject to a civil penalty, to be imposed by the labor commissioner in accordance with the procedures established in RSA 273:11-a. An employer aggrieved by the commissioner’s assessment of such penalty may appeal in accordance with RSA 273:11-c.
2 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study the protection of employees from domestic violence.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
III. The committee shall study how state laws, rules, and employment practices may be used to protect employees who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, stalking, or criminal harassment.
IV. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
V. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2014.
3 Effective Date.
I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.