Bill Text: MI HB6544 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Labor: fair employment practices; employment discrimination based on an employee's smoking habits; prohibit. Creates new act.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-12-21 - Bill Electronically Reproduced 12/21/2020 [HB6544 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-HB6544-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL NO. 6544
December 18, 2020, Introduced by Reps. Yancey,
Gay-Dagnogo, Brenda Carter and Garrett and referred to the Committee on
Government Operations.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
(a) "Employee" means an individual who receives compensation for performing services for an employer under an express or implied contract of hire.
(b) "Employer" means an individual or entity that allows 1 or more individuals to work, or that accepts applications for employment, or is an agent of an employer.
Sec. 3. (1) Except as provided in this section, an employer shall not discharge, fail or refuse to hire or recruit, or otherwise discriminate against an individual with respect to employment, compensation, or a term, condition, or privilege of employment because the individual uses tobacco products, vapor products, or nicotine products.
(2) The prohibition in subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following:
(a) Use that directly impairs an established bona fide occupational requirement or an employment activity or responsibility of the employee.
(b) Use on or in property that the employer owns or leases if the use violates an established policy of the employer.
(c) Use that is prohibited or regulated under state or federal law, regulation, or rule if the use is not in accord with the law, regulation, or rule.
Sec. 5. A person shall not retaliate or discriminate against a person because the person has done or was about to do any of the following:
(a) File a complaint under this act.
(b) Testify, assist, or participate in an investigation, proceeding, or action concerning a violation of this act.
(c) Oppose a violation of this act.
Sec. 7. An employer shall not require an applicant or employee to waive any right under this act. An agreement by an applicant or employee to waive any right under this act is invalid and unenforceable.
Sec. 9. A person who is injured by a violation of this act may bring a civil suit in a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain injunctive relief and damages. The court shall award costs and reasonable attorney fees to a person who prevails as a plaintiff in a suit authorized under this section.
