as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 01/22/2015 08:23am
A bill for an act
relating to employment; prohibiting discrimination against unemployed
individuals; providing for civil penalties; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 181.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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As used in this section, "employer" means a person
who employs another to perform a service for hire. Employer includes any agent,
representative, or designee of an employer who, for money or other valuable consideration
paid or promised to be paid, performs any recruiting.
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It shall be unlawful for an employer to discriminate
against an individual based on unemployment status by:
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(1) refusing to consider or refusing to offer employment based on that status; or
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(2) directing or requesting an employment agency to take into account
unemployment status when screening or referring applicants for employment.
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It shall be unlawful for an employer to publish in print or
post electronically an employment advertisement that includes any of the following:
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(1) a provision stating or suggesting that current employment is a job qualification;
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(2) a provision stating or suggesting that an application from a job applicant who
is currently unemployed will not be reviewed and the applicant will not be considered
for an interview or be hired; or
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(3) a provision stating or suggesting that only applications for employment from
applicants who are currently employed will be considered or reviewed.
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This section does not prohibit:
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(1) granting a preference in employment decisions to current employees of the
employer; or
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(2) requiring previous experience that is relevant to the employment.
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An employer that violates this section is subject to a civil
penalty of not more than $5,000 for the first violation and not more than $10,000 for
each subsequent violation.
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