H.B. 359

1

WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION
2 2014 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Mark A. Wheatley
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies provisions related to workplace discrimination.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . modifies the remedies available in an administrative action based on prohibited
13 employment practices;
14 . provides for civil actions seeking relief from discriminatory or prohibited
15 employment practices;
16 . removes language related to exclusive remedy and the affect of a commencement of
17 an action under federal law; and
18 . makes technical and conforming changes.
19 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 None
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 AMENDS:
25 34A-5-107 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
26
27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

28 Section 1. Section 34A-5-107 is amended to read:
29 34A-5-107. Procedure for aggrieved person to file claim -- Investigations --
30 Adjudicative proceedings -- Settlement -- Reconsideration -- Determination -- Civil
31 action.
32 (1) (a) [Any] A person claiming to be aggrieved by a discriminatory or prohibited
33 employment practice may, or that person's attorney or agent may, make, sign, and file with the
34 division a request for agency action.
35 (b) [Every] A request for agency action shall be verified under oath or affirmation.
36 (c) A request for agency action made under this section shall be filed within 180 days
37 after the alleged discriminatory or prohibited employment practice occurred.
38 (d) The division may transfer a request for agency action filed with the division
39 pursuant to this section to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in
40 accordance with the provisions of [any] a work-share agreement that is:
41 (i) between the division and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and
42 (ii) in effect on the day on which the request for agency action is transferred.
43 (2) [Any] An employer, labor organization, joint apprenticeship committee, or
44 vocational school who has an employee or member who refuses or threatens to refuse to
45 comply with this chapter may file with the division a request for agency action asking the
46 division for assistance to obtain the employee's or member's compliance by conciliation or
47 other remedial action.
48 (3) (a) Before a hearing is set or held as part of [any] an adjudicative proceeding, the
49 division shall promptly assign an investigator to attempt a settlement between the parties by
50 conference, conciliation, or persuasion.
51 (b) If no settlement is reached, the investigator shall make a prompt impartial
52 investigation of all allegations made in the request for agency action.
53 (c) The division and its staff, agents, and employees:
54 (i) shall conduct [every] an investigation in fairness to [all] the parties and agencies
55 involved; and
56 (ii) may not attempt a settlement between the parties if it is clear that no discriminatory
57 or prohibited employment practice has occurred.
58 (d) An aggrieved party may withdraw the request for agency action [prior to] before the

59 issuance of a final order.
60 (4) (a) If the initial attempts at settlement are unsuccessful, and the investigator
61 uncovers insufficient evidence during the investigation to support the allegations of a
62 discriminatory or prohibited employment practice set out in the request for agency action, the
63 investigator shall formally report these findings to the director or the director's designee.
64 (b) Upon receipt of the investigator's report described in Subsection (4)(a), the director
65 or the director's designee may issue a determination and order for dismissal of the adjudicative
66 proceeding.
67 (c) A party may make a written request to the Division of Adjudication for an
68 evidentiary hearing to review de novo the director's or the director's designee's determination
69 and order within 30 days of the date the determination and order for dismissal is issued.
70 (d) If the director or the director's designee receives no timely request for a hearing, the
71 determination and order issued by the director or the director's designee becomes the final order
72 of the commission.
73 (5) (a) If the initial attempts at settlement are unsuccessful and the investigator
74 uncovers sufficient evidence during the investigation to support the allegations of a
75 discriminatory or prohibited employment practice set out in the request for agency action, the
76 investigator shall formally report these findings to the director or the director's designee.
77 (b) (i) Upon receipt of the investigator's report described in Subsection (5)(a), the
78 director or the director's designee may issue a determination and order based on the
79 investigator's report.
80 (ii) A determination and order issued under this Subsection (5)(b) shall:
81 (A) direct the respondent to cease any discriminatory or prohibited employment
82 practice; and
83 (B) provide relief to the aggrieved party as the director or the director's designee
84 determines is appropriate.
85 (c) A party may file a written request to the Division of Adjudication for an evidentiary
86 hearing to review de novo the director's or the director's designee's determination and order
87 within 30 days of the date the determination and order is issued.
88 (d) If the director or the director's designee receives no timely request for a hearing, the
89 determination and order issued by the director or the director's designee in accordance with

90 Subsection (5)(b) becomes the final order of the commission.
91 (6) In [any] an adjudicative proceeding to review the director's or the director's
92 designee's determination that a prohibited employment practice has occurred, the division shall
93 present the factual and legal basis of the determination [or] and order issued under Subsection
94 (5).
95 (7) (a) [Prior to] Before commencement of an evidentiary hearing:
96 (i) the party filing the request for agency action may reasonably and fairly amend any
97 allegation; and
98 (ii) the respondent may amend its answer.
99 (b) An amendment permitted under this Subsection (7) may be made:
100 (i) during or after a hearing; and
101 (ii) only with permission of the presiding officer.
102 (8) (a) If, upon all the evidence at a hearing, the presiding officer finds that a
103 respondent has not engaged in a discriminatory or prohibited employment practice, the
104 presiding officer shall issue an order dismissing the request for agency action containing the
105 allegation of a discriminatory or prohibited employment practice.
106 (b) The presiding officer may order that the respondent be reimbursed by the
107 complaining party for the respondent's [attorneys'] attorney fees and costs.
108 (9) If upon all the evidence at the hearing, the presiding officer finds that a respondent
109 has engaged in a discriminatory or prohibited employment practice, the presiding officer shall
110 issue an order requiring the respondent to:
111 (a) cease any discriminatory or prohibited employment practice; and
112 (b) provide relief to the complaining party, including:
113 (i) reinstatement;
114 (ii) back pay and benefits;
115 (iii) compensatory and punitive damages in an amount not to exceed that available
116 under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1981a;
117 [(iii) attorneys'] (iv) attorney fees; and
118 [(iv)] (v) costs.
119 (10) Conciliation between the parties is to be urged and facilitated at all stages of the
120 adjudicative process.

121 (11) (a) Either party may file with the Division of Adjudication a written request for
122 review before the commissioner or Appeals Board of the order issued by the presiding officer
123 in accordance with:
124 (i) Section 63G-4-301 ; and
125 (ii) Chapter 1, Part 3, Adjudicative Proceedings.
126 (b) If there is no timely request for review, the order issued by the presiding officer
127 becomes the final order of the commission.
128 (12) An order of the commission under Subsection (11)(a) is subject to judicial review
129 as provided in:
130 (a) Section 63G-4-403 ; and
131 (b) Chapter 1, Part 3, Adjudicative Proceedings.
132 (13) The commission shall have authority to make rules concerning procedures under
133 this chapter in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
134 (14) The commission and its staff may not divulge or make public [any] information
135 gained from [any] an investigation, settlement negotiation, or proceeding before the
136 commission except as provided in Subsections (14)(a) through (d).
137 (a) Information used by the director or the director's designee in making [any] a
138 determination may be provided to [all] the interested parties for the purpose of preparation for
139 and participation in proceedings before the commission.
140 (b) General statistical information may be disclosed provided the identities of the
141 individuals or parties are not disclosed.
142 (c) Information may be disclosed for inspection by the attorney general or other legal
143 representatives of the state or the commission.
144 (d) Information may be disclosed for information and reporting requirements of the
145 federal government.
146 [(15) The procedures contained in this section are the exclusive remedy under state law
147 for employment discrimination based upon:]
148 [(a) race;]
149 [(b) color;]
150 [(c) sex;]
151 [(d) retaliation;]

152 [(e) pregnancy, childbirth, or pregnancy-related conditions;]
153 [(f) age;]
154 [(g) religion;]
155 [(h) national origin; or]
156 [(i) disability.]
157 [(16) (a) The commencement of an action under federal law for relief based upon any
158 act prohibited by this chapter bars the commencement or continuation of any adjudicative
159 proceeding before the commission in connection with the same claims under this chapter.]
160 [(b) The transfer of a request for agency action to the Equal Employment Opportunity
161 Commission in accordance with Subsection (1)(d) is considered the commencement of an
162 action under federal law for purposes of Subsection (16)(a).]
163 [(c) Nothing in this Subsection (16) is intended to alter, amend, modify, or impair the
164 exclusive remedy provision set forth in Subsection (15).]
165 (15) (a) A person claiming to be aggrieved by a prohibited employment practice may
166 file a civil action in state district court within 90 days after the day on which a determination
167 and order is issued under Subsection (4) or (5).
168 (b) If the court finds discriminatory or prohibited employment practices, the court may
169 order relief to the complaining party, including:
170 (i) reinstatement;
171 (ii) back pay and benefits;
172 (iii) compensatory and punitive damages in an amount not to exceed that available
173 under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1981a;
174 (iv) attorney fees; and
175 (v) costs.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-14-14 2:56 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel