Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act

Bill: 115-hr-4570
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17]
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: 2018-01-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-12-06
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Act </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>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4570 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 6, 2017 Mrs. Bustos (for herself, Mr. Jones , Ms. Jayapal , and Ms. Stefanik ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 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 . 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 Employment Disputes 401. Definitions In this chapter— (1) 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 as defined in section 701(b) of that title regardless of whether a violation of title VII is alleged; and (2) 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. 402. Validity and enforceability (a) In general 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 1, by striking of seamen, and all that follows through interstate commerce ; (B) in section 2, by inserting or as otherwise provided in chapter 4 before the period at the end; (C) 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 (D) 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 employment disputes. . 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.