Virginia Human Rights Act; unlawful discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth.
Summary
Virginia Human Rights Act; discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; reasonable accommodation for the known limitations of persons related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Requires employers, defined in the bill, to make reasonable accommodation for the known limitations of a person related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, if such accommodation is necessary to assist such person in performing a particular job, unless the employer can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer. The bill also prohibits employers from taking any adverse action against an employee who requests or uses a reasonable accommodation and from denying employment or promotion opportunities to an otherwise qualified applicant or employee because such employer will be required to make reasonable accommodation to the applicant or employee. The bill creates a cause of action against any employer who denies any of the rights afforded by the bill and permits the court or jury to award compensatory damages, back pay, and other equitable relief. The bill requires all employers to inform employees about the nondiscrimination policies created by the bill within 120 days of the bill's enactment and directs the Division of Human Rights to develop and conduct educational efforts about nondiscrimination in employment. The bill contains technical amendments.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2020
Committee Review
Mar 2020
Senate Passage
Feb 2020
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2020
Signed into Law
Apr 2020
Introduced Jan 7, 2020
Signed Apr 11, 2020
Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2020 · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2020
How they voted
40–0
Passed
Total votes 40
Feb 11, 2020
D
Democratic21
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
36
Key actions
9
Committee
11
Apr 11, 2020
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 1139 (effective 7/1/20)
executive
Mar 3, 2020
Lower · Passed
Passed House with substitute (61-Y 35-N)
lower
Mar 3, 2020
Lower · Passed
Engrossed by House - committee substitute SB712H1
lower
Mar 3, 2020
Lower · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 20109266D-H1
lower
Feb 27, 2020
Lower · Passed
Reported from General Laws with substitute (18-Y 3-N)
lower
Feb 19, 2020
Committee
Referred to Committee on General Laws
lower
Feb 19, 2020
Committee
Referred from Health, Welfare and Institutions
lower
Feb 14, 2020
Committee
Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
lower
Feb 11, 2020
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N)
upper
Feb 10, 2020
Upper · Passed
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB712S1
upper
Feb 10, 2020
Upper · Passed
Committee substitute agreed to 20106732D-S1
upper
Feb 6, 2020
Upper · Passed
Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 4-N 2-A)
upper
Jan 24, 2020
Committee
Assigned Education sub: Health
upper
Jan 7, 2020
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
Jan 7, 2020
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20104771D
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
JL
Jennifer L McClellan
DDemocratic
Co
Barbara Favola
DDemocratic
Co
Jennifer Boysko
DDemocratic
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