Unpaid Intern Protection Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3232
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7]
Introduced: 2015-07-28
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Age discrimination

Civil actions and liability

Disability and health-based discrimination

Employment discrimination and employee rights

Government liability

Racial and ethnic relations

Religion

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

State and local government operations

Temporary and part-time employment
Latest action: action_date: 2015-11-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-07-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Unpaid Intern Protection Act of 2015</b></p> <p>Prohibits employers from discriminating against unpaid interns on the basis of: (1) race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or age; or (2) disability if such intern can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.</p> <p> Applies procedures from the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to claims for a violation of this Act. </p> <p>Authorizes federal courts to grant legal and equitable relief.</p> <p>Prohibits states from being immune under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action in a federal court for a violation of this Act.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3232 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 28, 2015 Mr. Cummings (for himself, Mr. Scott of Virginia , and Ms. Meng ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To protect unpaid interns from workplace harassment and discrimination.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Unpaid Intern Protection Act of 2015 . 2. Unlawful discrimination against interns It shall be unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an intern on the basis of— (1) race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or age, or (2) disability if such intern is a qualified individual with a disability. 3. Procedures The procedures applicable to a claim for a violation of this Act are— (1) with respect to alleged discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, the procedures applicable for a claim for a violation of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq. ), (2) with respect to alleged discrimination based on age, the procedures applicable for a violation of Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 ( 29 U.S.C. 621 et seq. ), and (3) with respect to alleged discrimination based on a disability, the procedures applicable for a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12111 et seq. ). 4. Remedies The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to grant such legal and equitable relief as may be appropriate for a violation of this Act. 5. 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 court of the United States 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. 6. Definitions For purposes of this Act: (1) Disability The term disability has the meaning given such term as applied in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. ). (2) Employer The term employer has the meaning given such term in— (A) section 701 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e ) with respect to discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, (B) section 11 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 ( 29 U.S.C. 630 ) with respect to discrimination based on age, and (C) section 101 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12111 ) with respect to discrimination based on disability. (3) Intern The term intern means an individual who performs uncompensated voluntary service for an employer, to earn credit awarded by an educational institution or to learn a trade or occupation. (4) qualified individual with a disability The term qualified individual with a disability has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12111 ). (5) State The term State has the meaning given such term in— (A) section 701 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e ) with respect to discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, (B) section 11 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 ( 29 U.S.C. 630 ) with respect to discrimination based on age, or (C) section 4 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12103 ) with respect to discrimination based on disability.