Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits employers, employment agencies, and temporary help services from discriminating against unemployed individuals.

Highlights:

• Prohibits an employer from disqualifying an individual for employment based on their unemployment status (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits employers, employment agencies, and temporary help services from publishing job advertisements that state any of the following information (Sec. 1):
• Unemployed individuals are disqualified for the job;
• Unemployed individuals will not be considered for the job; or
• Unemployed individuals do not meet the job qualifications.

• Prohibits employment agencies and temporary help services from limiting information about job openings or refusing to refer an individual to a job opening based on their unemployment status (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes employers, employment agencies, and temporary help services to advertise and require an individual to have certain job qualifications, including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 1):
• The individual holds a valid occupational license, certification, or permit;
• The individual has a certain level of education, or training for the job; or
• The individual is a current employee of the employer.

• Authorizes employers, employment agencies, and temporary help services to take into account an individual’s employment history, relevant experience, and reasons for any unemployment (Sec. 1).

• Classifies a violation of this bill as a civil penalty, resulting in the following fines (Sec. 1):
• $500 for the first violation; and
• $1,000 for any subsequent violations.

Full Bill Text