Bill > HR1521

Introduced Session

To deter, prevent, reduce, and respond to harassment in the workplace, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, and harassment based on protected categories; and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the tax treatment of amounts related to employment discrimination and harassment in the workplace, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, and harassment based on protected categories. This bill addresses policies and procedures related to claims of workplace harassment. Specifically, the bill makes it an unlawful practice (with exceptions regarding certain settlement or separation agreements) for an employer to (1) enter into a contract with an employee or applicant, as a condition of employment, promotion, compensation, benefits, or change in employment status or contractual relationship, if that contract contains a nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause that covers workplace harassment; and (2) enforce, or attempt to enforce, a nondisparagement clause or nondisclosure clause that covers workplace harassment. Under the bill, an employee or applicant retains any right they would otherwise have had to report a concern about workplace harassment to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other specified agencies, regardless of whether they have signed a nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause. Employees or applicants also retain the right to pursue legal action regardless of signing such clauses. The bill sets forth (1) enforcement powers of the EEOC and other entities, and the jurisdiction of U.S. courts, regarding workplace harassment; and (2) the applicable procedures and remedies for employees' claims. The EEOC must (1) establish a confidential tip-line that supplements its process for submitting a charge of discrimination, and (2) provide for the development and dissemination of workplace training programs and information regarding workplace harassment. The bill modifies the tax treatment of expenses and payments related to workplace harassment and employment discrimination.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Lois Frankel (D)*,  Nanette Barragán (D),  Don Beyer (D),  Earl Blumenauer (D),  Lisa Blunt Rochester (D),  Julia Brownley (D),  André Carson (D),  Sean Casten (D),  Kathy Castor (D),  Gil Cisneros (D),  Katherine Clark (D),  Yvette Clarke (D),  Steve Cohen (D),  Jim Cooper (D),  Jim Costa (D),  TJ Cox (D),  Susan Davis (D),  Madeleine Dean (D),  Rosa DeLauro (D),  Antonio Delgado (D),  Val Demings (D),  Mark DeSaulnier (D),  Debbie Dingell (D),  Veronica Escobar (D),  Adriano Espaillat (D),  Brian Fitzpatrick (R),  Bill Foster (D),  Chuy García (D),  Jenniffer González (R),  Raúl Grijalva (D),  Debra Haaland (D),  Josh Harder (D),  Alcee Hastings (D),  Jahana Hayes (D),  Katie Hill (D),  Sheila Jackson-Lee (D),  Pramila Jayapal (D),  Eddie Johnson (D),  Hank Johnson (D),  Marcy Kaptur (D),  John Katko (R),  Bill Keating (D),  Joseph Kennedy (D),  Ro Khanna (D),  Derek Kilmer (D),  Ann Kuster (D),  Brenda Lawrence (D),  Al Lawson (D),  Barbara Lee (D),  Andy Levin (D),  Zoe Lofgren (D),  Alan Lowenthal (D),  Ben Ray Luján (D),  Betty McCollum (D),  Jim McGovern (D),  Grace Meng (D),  Gwen Moore (D),  Jerry Nadler (D),  Grace Napolitano (D),  Joe Neguse (D),  Eleanor Holmes Norton (D),  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D),  Ilhan Omar (D),  Chellie Pingree (D),  Mark Pocan (D),  Katie Porter (D),  Ayanna Pressley (D),  Mike Quigley (D),  Jamie Raskin (D),  Kathleen Rice (D),  Lucille Roybal-Allard (D),  Bobby Rush (D),  Kilili Sablan (D),  Jan Schakowsky (D),  Terri Sewell (D),  Albio Sires (D),  Adam Smith (D),  Jackie Speier (D),  Elise Stefanik (R),  Rashida Tlaib (D),  Lori Trahan (D),  Lauren Underwood (D),  Marc Veasey (D),  Nydia Velázquez (D),  Peter Visclosky (D),  Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D),  Bonnie Watson Coleman (D),  Susan Wild (D),  Frederica Wilson (D), 

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. (on 04/08/2019)

Official Document