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SB216 SUB1 Senate Bill 216 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

WEST virginia legislature

2016 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

Senate Bill 216

By Senator Maynard

[Originating in the Committee on the Judiciary; reported on January 26, 2016.]

 

A BILL to amend and reenact article 5, chapter 64 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to authorizing the Human Rights Commission to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


That article 5, chapter 64 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

 ARTICLE 5. AUTHORIZATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES TO PROMULGATE LEGISLATIVE RULES.


§64-5-1. Human Rights Commission.

The legislative rule filed in the State Register on July 31, 2015, authorized under the authority of section four, article eleven-b, chapter five of this code, modified by the Human Rights Commission to meet the objections of the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee and refiled in the State Register on December 8, 2015, relating to the Human Rights Commission (Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act, 77 CSR 10), is authorized with the amendments set forth below:

On pages 1 through 3, sections 1 through 5, by striking out all of sections 1 through 5 and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

§77-10-1. General.

1.1.        Scope. The following legislative rule series, filed pursuant to the West Virginia Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act (PWFA), W. Va. Code §5-11B-1 et seq., sets forth definitions and identifies some reasonable accommodations addressing known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. 

1.2.        Authority. – W. Va. Code §5-11B-4.

1.3.        Filing date. – July 31, 2015.

1.4.        Effective Date. –

§77-10-2. Definitions.

2.1. “Affected by pregnancy” means a woman who is pregnant or is experiencing medical conditions related to her pregnancy which has ended.

2.2. “Undue hardship” – In general, the term “undue hardship” means an action requiring significant difficulty or expense, when considered in light of the factors set forth in subdivision 2.2.1.

2.2.1.   Factors to be considered. In determining whether an accommodation would impose an undue hardship on a covered entity, factors to be considered include:

2.2.1.a.  The nature and cost of the accommodation needed under this article;

2.2.1.b.  The overall financial resources of the facility or facilities involved in the provision of the reasonable accommodation; the number of persons employed at such facility; the effect on expenses and resources, or the impact otherwise of such accommodation upon the operation of the facility;

2.2.1.c.  The overall financial resources of the covered entity; the overall size of the business of a covered entity with respect to the number of its employees; the number, type, and location of its facilities; and

2.2.1.d.  The type of operation or operations of the covered entity, including the composition, structure, and functions of the workforce of such entity; the geographic separateness, administrative, or fiscal relationship of the facility or facilities in question to the covered entity.

2.3. “Reasonable accommodation” – The term “reasonable accommodation” may include:

2.3.1.   Making existing facilities used by employees readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities; and

2.3.2.   Job restructuring, part-time or modified work schedules, reassignment to a vacant position, acquisition or modification of equipment or devices, appropriate adjustment or modifications of examinations, training materials or policies, the provision of qualified readers or interpreters, and other similar accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

2.4. “Related medical conditions” means physical and mental symptoms or limitations relating to or caused by a pregnancy, including but not limited to, miscarriage, complications of pregnancy or childbirth, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, after-effects of delivery, post-partum depression, and lactation: Provided, That an elective abortion shall not be considered a related medical condition.

2.5. “Covered Entity” means the state, or any political subdivision thereof, and any person employing twelve or more persons within the state for twenty or more calendar weeks in the calendar year in which the act of discrimination allegedly took place or the preceding calendar year: Provided, That such terms shall not be taken, understood or construed to include a private club.

2.6. “Person” means one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, organizations, corporations, labor organizations, cooperatives, legal representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy, receivers and other organized groups of persons.

§77-10-3. Examples of Reasonable Accommodations.

3.1. Reasonable accommodations that may be made by a covered entity include, but are not limited to:

3.1.1. Bathroom breaks;

3.1.2. Breaks for increased water intake;

3.1.3. Periodic rest;

3.1.4. Assistance with manual labor;

3.1.5. Providing time off for prenatal medical appointments;

3.1.6. Modified work policies or procedures;

3.1.7. Temporary transfers to less strenuous or less hazardous work;

3.1.8. Allowing for more time or more frequent eating;

3.1.9. Allowing time for taking prescribed medications; and

3.1.10. Providing access to existing facilities that are more convenient and usable by a woman affected by pregnancy.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Human Rights Commission to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.

 

 

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