Workplace Fairness Act of 1997

Summary: Workplace Fairness Act of 1997 - Prohibits employment discrimination on any basis other than job performance by covered entities, including entities covered under specified employment discrimination prohibitions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as employing authorities to which specified provisions of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 or the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 apply.  Grants specified powers to administer and enforce this Act to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Librarian of Congress, the Board of Directors of the Office of Compliance (for the Congress), the Attorney General, and Federal courts. 
Prohibits quotas.  Declares that this Act does not apply to religious organizations (except in their for-profit activities).  Disallows State immunity.  Makes the United States liable for all remedies (except punitive damages) to the same extent as a private person.  Allows recovery of attorney's fees.  Requires posting notices for employees and applicants.  Sets forth factors that pertain to job performance, including:  (1) ability and willingness to comply with performance requirements (including attendance and procedures); (2) any use of a drug or of alcohol that may adversely affect job performance; (3) any conviction of an offense for which a term of imprisonment exceeding one year could have been imposed; and (4) the ability to work well with others.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Workplace Fairness Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED.

    A covered entity shall not subject an individual to different 
standards or treatment on any basis other than factors pertaining to 
job performance in connection with employment or employment 
opportunities, or beginning on the 91st day of employment following 
hire or rehire, the compensation, terms conditions, or privileges of 
employment.

SEC. 3. QUOTAS PROHIBITED.

    A covered entity shall not adopt or implement a quota pursuant to 
this Act on any basis other than factors pertaining to job performance.

SEC. 4. RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act 
shall not apply to religious organizations.
    (b) For-Profit Activities.--This Act shall apply with respect to 
employment and employment opportunities that relate to any employment 
position that pertains solely to a religious organization's for-profit 
activities subject to taxation under section 511(a) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986.

SEC. 5. 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--
            (1) the Commission shall have the same powers as the 
        Commission has to administer and enforce--
                    (A) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 
                U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), or
                    (B) sections 302, 303, and 304 of the Government 
                Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202, 1203, and 
                1204),
        in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a 
        violation of such title or of section 302(a)(1) of such Act, 
        respectively,
            (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,
            (3) the Board (as defined in section 101 of the 
        Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 
        Stat. 3) shall have the same powers as the Board has to 
        administer and enforce the Congressional Accountability Act of 
        1995 in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a 
        violation of section 201(a)(1) of such Act.
            (4) the Attorney General of the United States shall have 
        the same powers as the Attorney General has to administer and 
        enforce--
                    (A) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 
                U.S.C. 2000e et seq.), or
                    (B) sections 302, 303, and 304 of the Government 
                Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202, 1203, 
                1204),
        in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a 
        violation of such title or of section 302(a)(1) of such Act, 
        respectively, and
            (5) the courts of the United States shall have the same 
        jurisdiction and powers as such courts have to enforce--
                    (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,
                    (B) sections 302, 303, and 304 of the Government 
                Employee Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202, 1203, 1204) 
                in the case of a claim alleged by such individual for a 
                violation of section 302(a)(1) of such Act, and
                    (C) the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 
                (Public Law 104-1; 109 Stat. 3) in the case of a claim 
                alleged by such individual for a violation of section 
                201(a)(1) of such Act.
    (b) Procedures and Remedies.--The procedures and remedies 
applicable to a claim alleged by an individual for a violation of this 
Act are--
            (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,
            (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, and
            (3) the procedures and remedies applicable for a violation 
        of section 201(a)(1) of Congressional Accountability Act of 
        1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 Stat. 3) in the case of a claim 
        alleged by such individual for a violation of such section.
    (c) Other Applicable Provisions.--With respect to claims alleged by 
covered employees (as defined in section 101 of the Congressional 
Accountability Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 Stat. 3)) for 
violations of this Act, title III of the Congressional Accountability 
Act of 1995 shall apply in the same manner as such title applies with 
respect to a claims alleged by such covered employees for violations of 
section 201(a)(1) of such Act.

SEC. 7. STATE AND FEDERAL IMMUNITY.

    (a) State Immunity.--A State shall not be immune under the eleventh 
article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States from an 
action in a Federal court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of 
this Act. In an action against a State for a violation of this Act, 
remedies (including remedies at law and in equity) are available for 
the violation to the same extent as such remedies are available in an 
action against any public or private entity other than a State.
    (b) Liability of the United States.--The United States shall be 
liable for all remedies (excluding punitive damages) under this Act to 
the same extent as a private person and shall be liable to the same 
extent as a nonpublic party for interest to compensate for delay in 
payment.

SEC. 8. ATTORNEYS' FEES.

    In any action or administrative proceeding commenced pursuant to 
this Act, the court or the Commission, in its discretion, may allow the 
prevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney's 
fee, including expert fees and other litigation expenses, and costs. 
The United States shall be liable for the foregoing the same as a 
private person.

SEC. 9. POSTING NOTICES.

    A covered entity shall post notices for employees, and for 
applicants for employment, describing 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 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-
10).

SEC. 10. REGULATIONS.

    The Commission shall have authority to issue regulations to carry 
out this Act.

SEC. 11. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS.

    This Act shall not invalidate or limit the rights, remedies, or 
procedures available to an individual under title VII of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964, or any other Federal law or any law of a State or 
political subdivision of a State.

SEC. 12. SEVERABILITY.

    If any provision of this Act, or the application of such provision 
to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of 
this Act and the application of such provision to other persons or 
circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 13. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    This Act shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act and shall not apply to conduct occurring before such 
effective date.

SEC. 14. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) The term ``Commission'' means the Equal Employment 
        Opportunity Commission.
            (2) The term ``covered entity'' means an employer, 
        employment agency, labor organization, joint labor management 
        committee, an entity to which section 717(a) of the Civil 
        Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e(a)) applies, an employing 
        authority to which section 302(a)(1) of the Government Employee 
        Rights Act of 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1202(a)(1)) applies, or an 
        employing authority to which section 201(a) of the 
        Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-1; 109 
        Stat. 3) applies.
            (3) The term ``employer'' has the meaning given such term 
        in section 701(b) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
        2000e(b)), except that a reference in such section to employees 
        shall be deemed for purposes of this Act to be a reference to 
        full-time employees.
            (4) The term ``employment agency'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 701(c) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 
        U.S.C. 2000e(c)).
            (5) The term ``employment or employment opportunities'' 
        includes job application procedures, hiring, advancement, 
        discharge, compensation, job training, or any other term, 
        condition, or privilege of employment.
            (6) The term ``labor organization'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 701(d) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 
        U.S.C. 2000e(d)).
            (7) The term ``person'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 701(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
        2000e(a)).
            (8) The term ``factors pertaining to job performance'' 
        means--
                    (A) employment history, including referrals from 
                previous employers,
                    (B) ability and willingness to comply with the 
                performance requirements (including attendance and 
                procedures) of the particular employment involved,
                    (C) educational background,
                    (D) any use of a drug or of alcohol, that may 
                adversely affect job performance,
                    (E) any conviction of an offense for which a term 
                of imprisonment exceeding 1 year could have been 
                imposed,
                    (F) any conflict of interest relating to the 
                particular employment involved,
                    (G) seniority recognized under an applicable bona 
                fide seniority system,
                    (H) ability to work well with others (cooperation 
                and teamwork), and
                    (I) insubordination.
            (9) The term ``religious organization'' means--
                    (A) a religious corporation, association, or 
                society, or
                    (B) a college, school, university, or other 
                educational institution, not otherwise a religious 
                organization, if--
                            (i) it is in whole or substantial part 
                        controlled, managed, owned, or supported by a 
                        religious corporation, association, or society, 
                        or
                            (ii) its curriculum is directed toward the 
                        propagation of a particular religion.
            (10) The term ``State'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 701(i) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
        2000e(i)).