Employee protections; discipline for political activity or affiliations prohibited.

Employee protections; discipline for politicalactivity or affiliations prohibited. Prohibits an employer from(i) directing the political activity or affiliations of an employee;(ii) discharging, disciplining, or discriminating against an employeefor such employee's lawful engagement or refusal to engage in anypolitical activity or affiliations; and (iii) refusing to hire, employ,or license an individual on the basis of such individual's politicalactivity or affiliations. The bill provides exceptions to these requirementswhere an employer believes that such actions are required by statute,regulation, or other mandate, where a professional services contractpermits an employer to limit the off-duty activities of an individual, and in the case of a religious exemption. A violation of the provisionsof the bill may be subject to a civil action within one year of theemployer's prohibited retaliatory action.