Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-2203
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Introduced: 2017-12-06
Policy area: Law
Subjects: Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration

Employment discrimination and employee rights

Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Latest action: action_date: 2017-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-12-06
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017</b></p> <p>This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of a sex discrimination dispute.</p> <p>The prohibition does not apply to an arbitration provision in a contract between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations, subject to limitations.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2203 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 6, 2017 Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Mr. Graham , Ms. Harris , Ms. Murkowski , Mr. Durbin , Ms. Heitkamp , and Mrs. Feinstein ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend title 9 of the United States Code with respect to arbitration.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act of 2017 . 2. Arbitration of employment disputes (a) In general Title 9 of the United States Code is amended by adding at the end the following: 4 Arbitration of Sex Discrimination Disputes Sec. 401. Definitions. 402. Validity and enforceability. 401. Definitions In this chapter— (1) the term predispute arbitration agreement means any agreement to arbitrate a dispute that had not yet arisen at the time of the making of the agreement; and (2) the term sex discrimination dispute means a dispute between an employer and employee arising out of conduct that would form the basis of a claim based on sex under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) if the employment were employment by an employer (as defined in section 701(b) of that Act ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e(b) )), regardless of whether a violation of such title VII is alleged. 402. Validity and enforceability (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b)(2), and notwithstanding any other provision of this title, no predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of a sex discrimination dispute. (b) Applicability (1) In general An issue as to whether this chapter applies to an arbitration agreement shall be determined under Federal law. The applicability of this chapter to an agreement to arbitrate and the validity and enforceability of an agreement to which this chapter applies shall be determined by a court, rather than an arbitrator, irrespective of whether the party resisting arbitration challenges the arbitration agreement specifically or in conjunction with other terms of the contract containing such agreement. (2) Collective bargaining agreements Nothing in this chapter shall apply to any arbitration provision in a contract between an employer and a labor organization or between labor organizations, except that no such arbitration provision shall have the effect of waiving the right of an employee to seek judicial enforcement of a right arising under a provision of the Constitution of the United States, a State constitution, or a Federal or State statute, or public policy arising therefrom. . (b) Technical and conforming amendments (1) In general Title 9 of the United States Code is amended— (A) in section 2, by inserting or as otherwise provided in chapter 4 before the period at the end; (B) in section 208— (i) in the section heading, by striking Chapter 1; residual application and inserting Application ; and (ii) by adding at the end the following: This chapter applies to the extent that this chapter is not in conflict with chapter 4. ; and (C) in section 307— (i) in the section heading, by striking Chapter 1; residual application and inserting Application ; and (ii) by adding at the end the following: This chapter applies to the extent that this chapter is not in conflict with chapter 4. . (2) Table of sections (A) Chapter 2 The table of sections for chapter 2 of title 9, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 208 and inserting the following: 208. Application. . (B) Chapter 3 The table of sections for chapter 3 of title 9, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 307 and inserting the following: 307. Application. . (3) Table of chapters The table of chapters for title 9, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 4. Arbitration of sex discrimination disputes 401 . 3. Effective date This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to any dispute or claim that arises on or after such date.