Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Bill: 114-s-1512
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Introduced: 2015-06-04
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Child care and development

Civil actions and liability

Employee hiring

Employee leave

Employment discrimination and employee rights

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government liability

Sex and reproductive health

Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

State and local government operations

Women's employment

Women's health
Latest action: action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-06-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Pregnant Workers Fairness Act</b></p> <p> Declares that it is an unlawful employment practice for employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, and other specified entities to: (1) fail to make reasonable accommodations to known limitations related to the pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions of job applicants or employees, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on such an entity's business operation; (2) deny employment opportunities based on the need of the entity to make such reasonable accommodations; (3) require such job applicants or employees to accept an accommodation that they choose not to accept, if such accommodation is unnecessary to perform the job; (4) require such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided to their known limitations; or (5) take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against an employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations.</p> <p>Sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, and the rights and protections extended to presidential offices.</p> <p>Directs the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to issue regulations to carry out this Act, including the identification of reasonable accommodations addressing known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.</p> <p>Prohibits state immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action for a violation of this Act. </p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1512 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 4, 2015 Mr. Casey (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen , Ms. Ayotte , and Mr. Heller ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To eliminate discrimination and promote women’s health and economic security by ensuring reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act . 2. Nondiscrimination with regard to reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy It shall be an unlawful employment practice for a covered entity to— (1) not make reasonable accommodations to the known limitations related to the pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions of a job applicant or employee, unless such covered entity can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the business of such covered entity; (2) deny employment opportunities to a job applicant or employee, if such denial is based on the need of the covered entity to make reasonable accommodations to the known limitations related to the pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions of an employee or applicant; (3) require a job applicant or employee affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions to accept an accommodation that such applicant or employee chooses not to accept, if such accommodation is unnecessary to enable the applicant or employee to perform her job; (4) require an employee to take leave, whether paid or unpaid, if another reasonable accommodation can be provided to the known limitations related to the pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions of an employee; or (5) take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against an employee on account of the employee requesting or using a reasonable accommodation to the known limitations related to the pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions of the employee. 3. Remedies and enforcement (a) Employees Covered by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (1) In general The powers, procedures, and remedies provided in sections 705, 706, 707, 709, 710, and 711 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e–4 et seq. ) to the Commission, the Attorney General, or any person, alleging a violation of title VII of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq. ) shall be the powers, procedures, and remedies this Act provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this Act against an employee described in section 5(3)(A), except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). (2) Costs and fees The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in subsections (b) and (c) of section 722 of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1988 ), shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, or any person, alleging such a practice. (3) Damages The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 1977A of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1981a ), including the limitations contained in subsection (b)(3) of such section 1977A, shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, or any person, alleging such a practice (not an employment practice specifically excluded from coverage under section 1977A(a)(1) of the Revised Statutes of the United States). (b) Employees Covered by Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (1) In general The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 ( 2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq. ) to the Board (as defined in section 101 of that Act ( 2 U.S.C. 1301 )), or any person, alleging a violation of section 201(a)(1) of that Act ( 2 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1) ) shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to that Board, or any person, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this Act against an employee described in section 5(3)(B), except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). (2) Costs and fees The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in subsections (b) and (c) of section 722 of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1988 ), shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to that Board, or any person, alleging such a practice. (3) Damages The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 1977A of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1981a ), including the limitations contained in subsection (b)(3) of such section 1977A, shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to that Board, or any person, alleging such a practice (not an employment practice specifically excluded from coverage under section 1977A(a)(1) of the Revised Statutes of the United States). (4) Other applicable provisions With respect to a claim alleging a practice described in paragraph (1), 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 alleging a violation of section 201(a)(1) of such Act ( 2 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1) ). (c) Employees covered by chapter 5 of title 3, United States Code (1) In general The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in chapter 5 of title 3, United States Code, to the President, the Commission, the Merit Systems Protection Board, or any person, alleging a violation of section 411(a)(1) of that title, shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the President, the Commission, such Board, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this Act against an employee described in section 5(3)(C), except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). (2) Costs and fees The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in subsections (b) and (c) of section 722 of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1988 ) shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the President, the Commission, such Board, or any person, alleging such a practice. (3) Damages The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 1977A of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1981a ), including the limitations contained in subsection (b)(3) of such section 1977A, shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the President, the Commission, such Board, or any person, alleging such a practice (not an employment practice specifically excluded from coverage under section 1977A(a)(1) of the Revised Statutes of the United States). (d) Employees Covered by Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (1) In general The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in sections 302 and 304 of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–16b; 2000e–16c) to the Commission, or any person, alleging a violation of section 302(a)(1) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 2000e–16b(a)(1)) shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the Commission, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this Act against an employee described in section 5(3)(D), except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). (2) Costs and fees The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in subsections (b) and (c) of section 722 of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1988 ) shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the Commission, or any person, alleging such a practice. (3) Damages The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 1977A of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1981a ), including the limitations contained in subsection (b)(3) of such section 1977A, shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the Commission, or any person, alleging such a practice (not an employment practice specifically excluded from coverage under section 1977A(a)(1) of the Revised Statutes of the United States). (e) Employees Covered by section 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (1) In general The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e–16 ) to the Commission, the Attorney General, the Librarian of Congress, or any person, alleging a violation of that section shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, the Librarian of Congress, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this Act against an employee or applicant described in section 5(3)(E), except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). (2) Costs and fees The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in subsections (b) and (c) of section 722 of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1988 ) shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, the Librarian of Congress, or any person, alleging such a practice. (3) Damages The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 1977A of the Revised Statutes of the United States ( 42 U.S.C. 1981a ), including the limitations contained in subsection (b)(3) of such section 1977A, shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this Act provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, the Librarian of Congress, or any person, alleging such a practice (not an employment practice specifically excluded from coverage under section 1977A(a)(1) of the Revised Statutes of the United States). (f) Prohibition Against Retaliation (1) In General No person shall discriminate against any individual because such individual has opposed any act or practice made unlawful by this Act or because such individual made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this Act. (2) Prohibition against coercion It shall be unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any individual in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of such individual having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of such individual having aided or encouraged any other individual in the exercise or enjoyment of, any right granted or protected by this Act. (3) Remedy The remedies and procedures otherwise provided for under this section shall be available to aggrieved individuals with respect to violations of this subsection. 4. Rulemaking Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall issue regulations in an accessible format in accordance with subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code, to carry out this Act. Such regulations shall provide examples of reasonable accommodations addressing known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions that shall be provided to a job applicant or employee affected by such known limitations unless the covered entity can demonstrate that doing so would impose an undue hardship. 5. Definitions As used in this Act— (1) the term Commission means the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; (2) the term covered entity — (A) has the meaning given the term respondent in section 701(n) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e(n) ); and (B) includes— (i) an employing office, as defined in section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 ( 2 U.S.C. 1301 ) and section 411(c) of title 3, United States Code; (ii) an entity employing a State employee described in section 304(a) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–16c(a)); and (iii) an entity to which section 717(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e–16(a) ) applies; (3) the term employee means— (A) an employee (including an applicant), as defined in section 701(f) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e(f) ); (B) a covered employee (including an applicant), as defined in section 101 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 ( 2 U.S.C. 1301 ); (C) a covered employee (including an applicant), as defined in section 411(c) of title 3, United States Code; (D) a State employee (including an applicant) described in section 304(a) of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–16c(a)); or (E) an employee (including an applicant) to which section 717(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e–16(a) ) applies; (4) 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) ); and (5) the terms reasonable accommodation and undue hardship have the meanings given such terms in section 101 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12111 ) and shall be construed as such terms have been construed under such Act and as set forth in the regulations required by this Act, including with regard to the interactive process that will typically be used to determine an appropriate reasonable accommodation. 6. Waiver of State immunity A State shall not be immune under the 11th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States from an action in a Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of this Act. In any action against a State for a violation of the requirements of this Act, remedies are available for such a violation to the same extent as such remedies are available for such a violation in an action against any public or private entity other than a State. 7. Relationship to other laws Nothing in this Act shall be construed to invalidate or limit the remedies, rights, and procedures of any Federal law or law of any State or political subdivision of any State or jurisdiction that provides greater or equal protection for workers affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.