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ME LD1647
ME LD1647An Act to Amend the Maine Human Rights Act to Provide Additional Remedies for Educational Discrimination
summary
Introduced
04/15/2025
04/15/2025
In Committee
04/15/2025
04/15/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
132nd Legislature
Bill Summary
This bill modifies provisions of the Maine Human Rights Act to allow a court to award compensatory damages in cases of intentional educational discrimination. Compensatory damages include damages for loss of education, loss of educational opportunity, past and future pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life and other nonpecuniary losses. The bill specifies that these compensatory damages are not available in cases when the discriminatory practice involves the provision of a reasonable accommodation and the educational institution had demonstrated good faith efforts, in consultation with the person with the disability, to make a reasonable accommodation that would provide that individual with an equally effective opportunity and would not cause undue hardship on the operation of the educational institution. Compensatory damages are not available in cases in which the practice was unlawful only because of its disparate impact. The bill also adds language that excludes cases of intentional educational discrimination from the existing limited monetary remedy available for unlawful discrimination under the Maine Human Rights Act.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Maine Human Rights Act to provide additional legal remedies for cases of intentional educational discrimination. Specifically, the bill introduces a new provision allowing victims of intentional educational discrimination to seek compensatory damages, which can include compensation for loss of education, educational opportunities, financial losses, emotional distress, mental anguish, and reduced quality of life. However, these damages would not be available in cases where an educational institution has made good faith efforts to provide reasonable accommodations for a person with a disability, in consultation with that individual, and without causing undue hardship to the institution. The bill also clarifies that compensatory damages are not applicable in cases where discrimination is claimed solely based on disparate impact (unintentional discriminatory outcomes). Additionally, the bill allows either party to request a jury trial when compensatory damages are being sought, and it explicitly states that these new provisions do not limit relief available under other state or federal laws. The goal of the bill is to provide more robust legal protections and potential compensation for victims of intentional educational discrimination in Maine.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (10)
Anne Carney (D)*,
Jill Duson (D),
Henry Ingwersen (D),
Amy Kuhn (D),
Matthew Moonen (D),
Joe Rafferty (D),
Peggy Rotundo (D),
Eleanor Sato (D),
David Sinclair (D),
Mike Tipping (D),
Last Action
Carry Over Approved (on 06/25/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1647&snum=132 |
| BillText | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0655&item=1&snum=132 |
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